Sidelines Magazine and The Chronicle of the Horse have been sold in unrelated transactions, it was announced Wednesday.
Sidelines was acquired by HITS, the company known for its horse shows around the country. Buying the Chronicle from Wellington International was the GRANDPRIX Group, which specializes in media, audio-visual and events.
Characterized by its photo-heavy interviews with top equestrians, Sidelines also features many other types of stories. Editor Jan Westmark Bauer will continue in that post.
Bob Bell, president of the Classic Company which sold the magazine, said, “I have enormous pride in what the team and I have accomplished during my tenure at Sidelines. I look forward to seeing the next phase of the magazine’s growth and wish the team at HITS the same fun and success we have enjoyed for almost a decade.”
HITS board chairman Mortimer Singer said, “The acquisition of Sidelines Magazine represents the next chapter in HITS’s commitment to holding our customers at the center of what we do. HITS being the largest national producer of horse shows makes Sidelines a perfect vehicle to showcase the many exciting equestrian enthusiast stories across the country.”
HITS was founded more than 40 years ago by Tom Struzzieri and purchased in 2022 by Traub Capital Partnres.
GRANDPRIX, a monthly magazine, also puts out news daily on line. Studforlife.com provides in-depth coverage of show jumping and breeding, and Horseman.nl is a leading outlet in Flanders and the Netherlands. The group also publishes the ASEP Stallion Guide, a reference tool for breeders.
By integrating The Chronicle, GRANDPRIX “will bring its editorial and technological expertise to this prestigious title: modernization of formats and platforms, revitalization of subscription and distribution offers, expansion of editorial content, and enhanced international coverage of major equestrian competitions,” according to a statement from the purchaser.
Sean Gagnon, chief financial officer of Wellington Interantional, said, “We are highly confident in the future of The Chronicle of the Horse under the leadership of Vincent Goehrs and the GRANDPRIX team. While the publication was no longer aligned with Wellington International’s strategic priorities, we are certain that GRANDPRIX’s vision and investment will allow The Chronicle of the Horse to continue to grow and thrive as a media of reference.”