McLain Ward & Rothchild won the 2016 AIG $1 Million Grand Prix. Ph. ©Bret St. Clair
The annual AIG $1 Million Grand Prix at the HITS Desert Circuit in Thermal, California, USA has a new twist this year. Slated for Sunday, March 19, 2017, the formerly 1.60m grand prix will be held at the 1.50m height. Find out what exactly why the height change was made in this exclusive interview with HITS President and CEO, Tom Struzzieri.
“Entry for the 2017 AIG $1 Million Grand Prix was the most popular to date,” Struzzieri said this week. “We are at capacity for Sunday’s class and have a waiting list of riders eager to compete at the new 1.50 meter height. We quickly received entries from the 45 riders that we allow, who have been quite competitive and showing in Coachella all winter.”
Also new this year, the Top 20 Qualified Riders who enter the class may ride two horses in the AIG Million. All other riders may ride one horse in the AIG Million. This has resulted in several riders taking up the chance to enter two horses, as seen below in the riders list.
“By virtue of making the jumps 1.50 meters, the resulting course will be extremely more technical and difficult to ride than previous HITS Million Dollar 1.60 meter classes,” commented course designer Alan Wade.
The AIG $1 Million Grand Prix will be livestreamed online. For more information go to this link.
Horse & Rider List for AIG $1 Million Grand Prix as of 3/15/2017:
Uma O’Neill
Clockwise of Greenhill Z
Laura Hite
Solos Consept
Arsia Ardalan
Chin Chin
Ashlee Bond
Chela LS
Cornancer
Harley Brown
Apex
Jeff Campf
Wordsworth II
Saree Gordon-Solanki
Domino
Zazou Hoffman
W Zermie 13
Samson II
Shelley Fellers
Revenge
Nicolette Hirt
Anaconda D
Kristin Hardin
Firestone S
Katie Harris
Lafino 4
Nicole Haunert
NJK No Regret
Ali Ramsay
Hermelien VD Hoogoeve
Jenni McAllister
LEGIS Touch the Sun
Chenor McElvain
Wallstreet RC
Karl Cook
Caillou 24
Tembla
Eric Navet
Catypso
Will Simpson
The Dude
La Mirage 16
Guy Thomas
Jonkheer Z
Brenda Riddell
Dutch Amouretta
Mandy Porter
Coral Reef Follow Me II
Milano
Jamie Barge
Luebbo
Lindsay Archer
Camerone
Tamie Phillips
Cat Balou
Cristar
Shota Ogomori
SIG Silver Surfer
Peter Peschenig
Colour Your Life
Saint Quentin
Richard Spooner
Cristallo
Simon Nizri
E Muze Yek
Russell Morgan
Dusty
Cian O’Connor
Good Luck
Lillie Keenan
Super Sox
Derek Braun
Lacarolus
Kevin Babington
Shorapur
Charlie Jayne
Tou La Moon
Paul Rohrbach
Camerino
Lane Clarke
Balu U
Andre Thieme
Conthendrix
Laura Jane Tidball
Concetto Son
Kaitlin Campbell
Rocky W
McLain Ward
HH Callas
Kyle King
McLord’s Othelo
Daniel Pedraza
Arc De Triomphe
Michelle Parker
Cupilor
John Anderson
Terrific
Granit S
Jill Prieto
Carlton Cafe