Schumer Makes Final Push To Bring Natl Pony Finals From Kentucky To Ulster County W/Personal call

[The Straight Story]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 19, 2008

Schumer Makes Final Push To Bring National Pony Finals From Kentucky To Ulster County With Personal Call To US Equestrian Federation President

National Pony Jumping Finals Would Boost Ulster County Tourism Revenue-Attract Thousands of Riders and Enthusiasts to Hudson Valley for One Week Every August After Writing Letter to USEF Last Month, Schumer Follows Up With Call Today to President - - Urges Federation to Move National Pony Jumping Finals to World-Class HITS-on-the-Hudson Facility in Saugerties Schumer to USEF President: Next Year's NYS Quadricentennial Celebration is the Perfect Time to Pony Up for Saugerties

In a final push to move the National Pony Finals from Lexington, Kentucky to Saugerties, New York, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today made a personal phone call to U.S. Equestrian Federation President David O’Connor. Schumer was following up on a letter he sent last month urging the USEF to bring the National Pony Finals, a week-long event with tourism, recreational, and community benefits, from Kentucky to New York for the 2009 through 2011 competitions. The National Pony Finals are a high quality equestrian sporting event that attracts the nation’s top pony riders, their families and pony enthusiasts, bringing additional tourism and recreational events to the area in August.

Last month, Schumer sent a letter to USEF urging the federation to make the move and bring the National Pony Finals to the Hudson Valley. Today, Schumer made a personal call to USEF President O’Connor, in a final push to secure the move.

“Saugerties, the home of the world-class HITS-on-the-Hudson equestrian facility, is the perfect spot for the National Pony Finals. We are prepared to saddle up for this exciting sporting event,” Schumer said. “In my call today with President O’Connor I stressed what perfect timing it was to make the move, as all of New York State prepares for our Quadricentennial celebration next year. The two events would compliment each other terrifically, bringing thousands of tourists and enthusiasts to the Hudson Valley and delivering a massive boost to the entire region’s economy”

As the Hudson Valley prepares to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson and Samuel de Champlain’s voyages along the Hudson River and Lake Champlain – as well as the 200th anniversary of Robert Fulton’s successful steamboat voyage, which brought steam commerce along the Hudson River – Schumer stressed that 2009 will be the perfect year for New York to start hosting the annual pony sporting event.

Last month, in a letter to John Long, CEO of U.S. Equestrian Federation, Senator Schumer wrote: “The Quadricentennial Celebration will attract tourists from around the nation, and the world, to the region and coupled with the National Pony Finals will create even more excitement and attention for New York State and the United States Equestrian Federation. If there was ever a time to have New York State host this event, it is in the coming year.”


"HITS-on-the-Hudson and Ulster County have mounted a terrific effort; now we have one final fence to clear at the US Equestrian Federation to land this prestigious event," said Schumer.


Today, in a follow-up to last month’s letter, Schumer made a personal call to USEF President O’Connor, urging him to make the move to the world-class HITS-on-the-Hudson facility in Saugerties. The Senator noted the tens of thousands of visitors who would already be flocking to the area for the Quadricentennial Celebration; the area’s proximity to New York City, and major tourist attractions such as the FDR Presidential Library, West Point, the Catskill Mountains, the Bethel Performing Arts Center and Museum, and Dia Beacon.

A text of the Senator’s original letter from last month is pasted below:

Dear Mr. Long:

I am pleased to write in support of the application submitted by HITS, Inc. to host the National Pony Finals in Saugerties, New York for 2009 through 2011 with an option for an additional two years. The National Pony Finals provide high quality equestrian, social and recreational activities for our nation’s top pony riders and their families, and the HITS-on-the-Hudson equestrian facility in New York State is the ideal location for the annual five day event.
Next year will be one of tremendous excitement and celebration for New York State. 2009 will mark the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson and Samuel de Champlain’s voyages along the Hudson River and Lake Champlain, as well as the 200th anniversary of Robert Fulton’s successful steamboat voyage and the commencing of steam commerce along the Hudson River. The Quadricentennial Celebration will attract tourists from around the nation and the world to the region, and, coupled with the National Pony Finals, will create even more excitement and attention for New York State and the United States Equestrian Federation. If there was ever a time to have New York State host this event, it is in the coming year.

Located between the mighty Catskill Mountains and the shores of the scenic Hudson River in Saugerties, New York, the HITS-on-the-Hudson equestrian facility will be in the epicenter of the action. The Quadricentennial Celebration will peak just in time for the National Pony Finals in summer of 2009, attracting innumerable history and equestrian enthusiasts alike to our great state.

In addition to its ideal location, HITS-on-the-Hudson also offers the spectacular track record of experience and success of HITS, Inc. HITS, Inc. has been one of the premier producers of show jumping competition for over 25 years, and currently conducts 37 weeks of horse shows in five venues panning both coasts of the United States. Eight of these shows take place in Saugerties, New York, at the HITS-on-the-Hudson facility. With an average weekly attendance of 2,000 horses and 4,000 equestrians, the facility has an economic impact of $50 million. HITS, Inc. has established a world-class competition facility, offering stabling for more than 2,000 horses, 10 competition rings, an on-site restaurant/lounge, and a VIP Pavilion that can accommodate more than 600 guests. In addition, equestrian enthusiasts can visit the permanent vendor stores featuring clothing, tack, fine jewelry, custom footwear, art and photography, and custom souvenirs.


HITS, Inc.’s track record of experience and success in equestrian competition, combined with the strong community spirit and pride of New York State, especially during next year’s historic milestone, make HITS-on-the-Hudson the ideal host site for the National Pony Finals. The first-rate facilities and welcoming spirit of New York State would provide pony riders and their families with an experience they will long remember. I applaud HITS, Inc. for its foresight, and I urge you to approve its application to host the National Pony Finals.

http://schumer.senate.gov/SchumerWebsite/pressroom/record.cfm?id=299521

[Runcible Spoon]

1. oh wow did I hate the Saugerties Pony Club growing up!

bunch of rich spoiled brats on $25,000 Connemaras :grr:

Our little hayseed club The Brumbies couldn't compete with their expensive ponies, but we DID qualify for the Nationals in Know-Down, which is like horse jeopardy and THEY DIDN'T! SO NYAH ON THEM! :evilgrin:

thanks for the memories..I loved travelling to Kentucky and seeing the horse park during that trip, but would like to see the Nationals in my back yard too!

[The Straight Story]

2. You totally lost me at Saugerties

:)