THERMAL, CA (February 9, 2026) If Laura Linback, the only amateur rider in today’s $30,000 Ariat Grand Prix, was going to lose to someone it might as well be to a legend.
And that’s exactly what happened, when Richard Spooner and his mount Robinson took advantage of their last-to-ride position and stopped the clocks at 41.509 to secure the blue-ribbon for Spooner who collected his 93rd victory in a Grand Prix class. Linback and Sampras challenged course designer Anthony D’Ambrosio’s jump-off course one trip earlier and set the Great American Time to Beat at 43.552.
Robinson is an 18 year old Hanoverian Gelding that was purchased as an eight year old from Ludger and Marcus Beerbaum in Germany in 1996. Robinson has won over one million dollars in prize money, and has been the PCHA horse of the year three times. Spooner, the Desert Circuit’s all-time leading money winner collected his first triumph at HITS’ brand-new state-of-the-art equestrian facility in Thermal, California.
“What an incredible day for Robinson,” said Spooner. “He just keeps getting stronger and stronger each year we come out here together. We rubbed on a lot of rails in the jump-off but they all stayed up. I couldn’t be more pleased.”
“We had a great jump-off with a legendary winner,” said D’Ambrosio. “Hopefully, it will be a prelude of things to come on Sunday for the World Cup Qualifier”
The course designer also had praise for the new arena. “The footing here is getting better and better,” he said. “I think today was the best day yet. A lot of the riders have told me that they are looking forward to a great second half here.”
The field returning to the jump-off was pretty impressive too. A pair of Canadian Olympians took their best shot at D’Ambrosio’s course to start the jump-off. Jill Henselwood and Special Ed were first but she dropped a rail on jump 1 to push her into fourth place. John Pearce and Champagne would not toast a victory thanks to a rail down on hurdle 6B. Pearce would end the class with a fifth place finish.
Third to go was Francie Steinwedell-Carvin and her mount Naranco. She too finished with four faults, but her time of 41.394 put her atop the leaderboard with just three trips remaining. However, she would end up third after Linback and Spooner posted clear rounds.
The win was Robinson’s 37th of his career in a Grand Prix. Today, he bested 54 starters.
Show Jumping at HITS Thermal continues all weekend and culminates Sunday with the $75,000 Footing Authority Grand Prix, on February 11. Sunday’s Featured Class is the second of four World Cup Qualifiers at HITS Desert Horse Park this winter.
Sunday also marks Kids Day, presented by Purina Mills, The Desert Sun and Woodrun at HITS Thermal. Children of all ages and their parents are invited to enjoy a day of family activities as HITS brings the fun and games to its brand new 230-acre facility.
Children will love watching the show jumping competition, which starts at 8 AM and goes to 5 PM and includes everything from pony jumpers to Olympic-level Grand Prix jumping. Most Kids Day activities begin at 11 AM and conclude at 1 PM. With 12 rings to visit, there is a lot to see and do for the entire day, including pony rides, a petting zoo and the popular T-Rex Tunnel. Future athletes can even test the speed of their fastball on a radar gun.
The Purina Mills trailer will also be on hand and will have several games for children to play. Other activities include caricature drawings, clowns, and toy giveaways courtesy of Wishes Toy Store . Admission is $5 for adults on weekends, children 12 and under are admitted free.
For the past 15 years, HITS has produced a six-week winter horse show circuit in Indio, California. The 2007 HITS Desert Circuit is being held just five miles from its previous home at the new, state-of-the-art HITS Desert Horse Park equestrian facility on Airport Boulevard in Thermal, California.
The new horse park is the largest Hunter/Jumper horse show venue in the United States and lays claim to more than $10,000,000 in improvements, including stabling for more than 3,000 horses and 12 competition rings. HITS Thermal also features the new state-of-the-art footing provided by Footing Authority.
In January 2006, HITS entered into a private equity arrangement with Leonard Green & Partners, L.P. in Los Angeles. As a result, HITS, Inc. is able to develop and execute exciting operational and strategic initiatives that both solidify its well-established position as the leader in horse show management and allow for new growth opportunities including the construction of HITS Desert Horse Park. HITS generates significant economic impact in each of its five venues in California, Arizona, Florida, Virginia and New York.
1 Robinson Richard Spooner Half Moon Bay $9,000 0 0 41.942
2 Sampras Laura Linback Woodrun $6,600 0 0 43.55
3 Naranco Francie Steinwedell-Carvin Presntiss Partners $3,900 0 4 41.48
4 Special Ed Jill Henselwood Juniper Farms $2,400 0 4 42.03
5 Champagne John Pearce Forest View Farms $1,800 0 4 42.071
6 Live Fire Richard Spooner C & S Partnership $1,500 0 8 43.76
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