04.27.14
Posted in Rolex Kentucky 3 Day Event at 8:36 pm by EPR
Lexington, Ky., April 27, 2014 – With everything on the line, William Fox-Pitt of Great Britain calmly guided Bay My Hero faultlessly around the show jumping course to win the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Land Rover, for the third time.
His score of 44.0 topped second-placed Lauren Kieffer, of Middleburg, Va., on Veronica (46.7) and third-placed Buck Davidson, of Ocala, Fla., on Ballynoe Castle RM (51.7). Kieffer, 26, also won the USEF Four-Star Championship, the title Davidson won in 2013 when he finished fourth on Ballynoe Castle RM.
Sinead Halpin, of Oldwick, N.J., rode Manoir De Carneville to fourth (51.7); and Marilyn Little, of Frederick, Md., rode her two horses-RF Smoke On The Water (52.5) and RF Demeter (55.3)-to fifth and sixth.
For Fox-Pitt, 45, this Rolex Kentucky victory was his 13th win in a CCI4*, the highest level of eventing. This victory was worth $80,000.
“Each one is special for its own merits,” he said of his three Rolex Kentucky wins, the first two aboard Cool Mountain in 2010 and Parklane Hawk in 2012. “You can never believe it’s happened until it’s come off. I didn’t come here expecting to win. I came here expecting to enjoy two nice horses,” he said.
When asked how he’ll wear three Rolex watches, Fox-Pitt replied, “My wife, Alice, has the second one, and I guess this one will be for one of my sons.”
With the scores especially close after the first two phases, every rail seemed to count double. Third to 10th places were separated by just 1.4 points, and Davidson and Halpin, standing in fifth and seventh, increased the pressure on the top three with their faultless performances.
Earlier in the day, Phillip Dutton had withdrawn third-placed Mr. Medicott before the final horse inspection, leaving Little in third place on RF Demeter. But Little lowered the final rail of the triple combination to fall three places.
Then it was time for Kieffer, riding at Rolex Kentucky for the third time, to face the beautifully decorated show jumping course, designed for the 17th year by Richard Jeffery. Showing tremendous confidence, Kieffer guided Veronica to a perfect round, putting her in position to become the first American to win Rolex Kentucky since Dutton in 2008.
The roar that erupted in the Rolex Stadium when Kieffer landed from the last fence nearly unnerved the normally implacable Fox-Pitt and Bay My Hero, who could not afford to lower a single rail to keep their lead.
“He got a little bit excited when the crowd went wild when Lauren jumped a clean round,” said Fox-Pitt with understatement. “He tried to leg it back up the chute [into the ring], and I thought I might just do the same.”
Kieffer showed remarkable composure in front of the completely sold-out Rolex Stadium. Today’s attendance was 22,388, bringing the event total to 78,623.
“It took a lot of mental focus to try to keep cool, to ride it was like [it was just another event],” she said. Second place earned prize money of $37,000. Veronica is a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare.
Davidson, 38, marveled at the consistency Ballynoe Castle RM, 14, has shown in his career, especially at Rolex Kentucky. “Basically you tell him its Kentucky, and he’s ready to go,” Davidson said with a smile. His third-placed prize money was $30,000.
He was, though, “a bit disappointed with my dressage score. I thought it was the best test he’s ever done.”
Still, “We have such a great partnership. I was like a little kid talking to my pony on cross-country. I was saying, ‘Come on, Reggie, we only have two more minutes to go!’
“He’s truly a horse of a lifetime. Every time I ride him, I think how lucky I am,” Davidson added.
Kieffer’s, Davidson’s and Little’s scores propelled the U.S. to victory in the first Dubarry of Ireland Nations Team Challenge, in which the three-highest riders from each nation determined the result. The winning team members shared $10,000 in prize money.
The U.S score of 150.1 easily bested Great Britain (163.8) and Canada (200.9).
The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, Presented by Land Rover, April 24-27 at the Kentucky Horse Park, is one of the world’s most prestigious equestrian competitions and features the world’s best horses and riders vying for their share of $250,000 in prize money, as well as a shot at the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing, which is awarded to any rider who wins the Rolex Kentucky, Mitsubishi Motors Badminton and Land Rover Burghley four-star Events in succession.
The 2014 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event is a selection trial for the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games and will crown the 17th Rolex/USEF National CCI4* Champion. The only four-star event in the Western Hemisphere, Rolex Kentucky draws an estimated 60,000 to 70,000 spectators and is seen by millions more on worldwide telecasts.
This year, for the first time ever, Rolex Kentucky includes a team challenge. The Dubarry of Ireland Nations Team Challenge will award $20,000 in prize money, while helping national teams prepare for the team competition at the World Equestrian Games this summer. The winning nation will be the nation with the fewest penalties after adding together the final scores of the three highest-placed individuals from that nation.
Rolex Kentucky is a fun time for all in attendance. Aside from the competition, the event features exquisite shopping in the Sponsor Village; an International Trade Fair with almost 200 booths and tents displaying designer clothing, artwork, gifts, sport clothing, horse-related items, and event souvenir items; and the brand-new “Kentucky Uncovered,” which highlights products unique to the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Rolex Kentucky also features a variety of other entertaining attractions. General admission to the Kentucky Horse Park, America’s only theme park dedicated to horses, is included with each Rolex Kentucky ticket.
Coverage of America’s only Four Star Event includes an NBC broadcast – the Rolex Equestrian Championships presented by Land Rover – which will air on Sunday, May 4. All four days of the competition were streamed online LIVE on USEFNetwork.com, presented by SmartPak, beginning on Thursday, April 24.
For equestrian fans throughout the rest of the world, FEI TV is airing LIVE coverage of Saturday’s cross-country and Sunday’s show jumping competitions. To sign up for FEI TV, visit www.feitv.org.
The broadcast schedule is listed below, and is also available on the USEF Network coverage page, www.usefnetwork.com/featured/2014Rolex/. All broadcast times are subject to change.
* May 4: Rolex Equestrian Championships on NBC, 2:00-3:00 p.m. EDT
Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI) is a non-profit charitable Kentucky corporation that was established initially to produce the 1978 World Three-Day Event Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park. Following the success of those championships, EEI established an annual event which quickly evolved into what is today the only Four Star three-day event in the Western Hemisphere, the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. The Kentucky Reining cup was incorporated as part of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event schedule in 2011.
For complete information, please visit www.RK3DE.org.
Stay up to date with Rolex Kentucky!
William Fox-Pitt accepted the Rolex watch for winning the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event on Bay My Hero from President and CEO Stewart Wicht.
(Ben Radvani photo)
Lauren Kieffer rode Veronica to second place in the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Land Rover.
(Ben Radvani photo)
Buck Davidson rode Ballynoe Castle RM to third place in the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Land Rover.
(Ben Radvani photo)
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Posted in Rolex Kentucky 3 Day Event at 8:32 pm by EPR
Lexington, Ky., April 27, 2014 – Phillip Dutton won the Land Rover Best Ride of the Day award on Saturday at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Land Rover. His prize was a two-year lease on a 2013 Range Rover Evoque, a car he drove away on Saturday afternoon.
Dutton won the Land Rover Ride of the Day on Trading Aces, with whom he was placed ninth after cross-country. The Land Rover Best Ride of the Day award goes to the U.S. rider who finishes closest to the optimum time, with no jumping penalties.
Dutton, of West Grove, Pa., was the fifth rider on the cross-country course with Trading Aces, and he finished exactly on the optimum time of 11:12, checking his watch often as he neared the end of the course.
Dutton has only been riding Trading Aces for a few weeks, substituting for his friend Boyd Martin, who broke his leg in a fall from another horse during an event in March. Martin retired Trading Aces late on course in 2013, but Dutton credited Martin with giving the horse increased experience and fitness since then. “All credit to Boyd and everyone who’s worked with him,” said Dutton.
Dutton smiled and said he would not be sharing his Evoque with Martin, because Martin had won a different model of car with Trading Aces earlier this year.
The Range Rover Evoque, introduced in 2012, features a new ZF-9HP nine-speed automatic transmission to enhance performance and efficiency and a suspension configured for dynamic and agile handling across varied terrain. The Evoque is available in three models, each with a unique design theme.
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04.25.14
Posted in Rolex Kentucky 3 Day Event at 7:52 pm by EPR
Lexington, Ky., April 25, 2014 –With a score of 39.5 penalties, Allison Springer, riding Arthur, emphatically took over the lead in the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Land Rover. Two-time Rolex Kentucky winner William Fox-Pitt is second, on Bay My Hero (44.0), and Lauren Kieffer is third on Veronica (46.7).
Three riders are tied for fourth with a score of 49.5: Thursday’s leader Michael Pollard on Mensa G, Phillip Dutton on Mr. Medicott, and Jan Byyny on Inmidair. Will Faudree, who stood second on Thursday with Pawlow, is now seventh (49.8).
Some 13,760 spectators watched the second half of the 60-horse field perform their dressage tests today, the precursor to Saturday’s cross-country phase.
Springer, 39, of Upperville, Va., and Arthur also won the Rolex Kentucky dressage phase in 2012. “I think I liked this one better because I was a bit more emotional. But he went into the ring a much more confident horse. I think maybe we’re both maturing a little bit, and I do think this one was a bit better,” said Springer of Arthur, a 15-year-old U.S.-bred Irish Sporthorse.
Springer is also in 44th place on Copycat Chloe.
Fox-Pitt, 45, a member of Britain’s gold-medal team at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games at the Kentucky Horse Park, thought that Bay My Hero did some of his best work too.
“I was very happy with him today. He couldn’t have gone very much better,” said Fox-Pitt, noting that the weather had become dark and blustery by the time he and Springer rode, at mid-afternoon. “He can be quite easily distracted, because he likes to look at everything. But he really held it together well.”
Fox-Pitt is also in 10th place on Seacookie TSF.
Kieffer, 26, of Middleburg, Va., is riding at Rolex Kentucky for the second time, and this will also be Veronica’s second Rolex start. In 2012 Karen O’Connor fell off her at a water complex. Kieffer has been a student of Karen and David O’Connor’s for nine years and has been riding Veronica for about a year.
“There is a lot to do tomorrow, and I don’t think this will be a dressage show,” said Kieffer.
With dressage completed, the riders are now focusing their attention on Derek di Grazia’s cross-country course, which winds its way around the Kentucky Horse Park. Competition begins at 11:00 a.m.
The jump that’s grabbing their attention the most is a new creation, fences 16AB, the Angled Brushes.
“I think the angled hedges are about the most severe angle I’ve ever jumped,” said Springer. “But I really trust Derek as a course designer, and I have a lot of faith in Arthur.”
Said Fox-Pitt about the Angled Brushes: “We’ve all been squinting at them to try to make them look better. The horses will need to be really on the ball there-and all around the course. It’s a tough track, but I think the horses should finish well. It’s going to take some jumping.”
Kieffer called di Grazia “a genius as a course designer.”
She added, “The horses can see all the lines at the combinations if you ride them well. There are no tricks. But if you make a mistake, it will punish the rider, not the horse.”
The effect of the cross-country course will likely be substantial, as the horses placed from eighth to 34th have penalties between 51.2 and 59. 8.
In the new Dubarry of Ireland Nations Team Challenge, the United States is in the lead, thanks to Springer and Kieffer. By adding Pollard’s score, the U.S. total is 135.7 penalties.
Fox-Pitt is two-thirds of the British team, and when combined with Sarah Bullimore’s 52.7 on Reve Du Rouet, the British team’s second-placed score is 148.2.
Canada, with a 54.7 from Jessica Phoenix on Pavarotti and two scores from Selena O’Hanlon, is third with 168.5.
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04.24.14
Posted in Rolex Kentucky 3 Day Event at 8:20 pm by EPR
Lexington, Ky., April 24, 2014 – Michael Pollard grabbed the early lead on the first day of dressage at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Land Rover, scoring 49.5 penalties on Mensa G.
That score just eclipsed the score of 49.8 penalties earned by Will Faudree on Pawlow. Doug Payne scored 51.2 on Crown Talisman to claim third place.
The dressage judges at this year’s Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event are Sandy Phillips of Great Britain, Gillian Rolton of Australia and Christina Klingspor of Sweden.
“I like to say that, on dressage day, you can’t win the event, but you certainly can lose it. I’m probably not going to keep the lead tomorrow, but this is a good start,” said Pollard, 33, of Dalton, Ga. “I just tried not to panic before I went in the ring.”
Mensa G is a 16-year-old Thoroughbred gelding by Colonial Affair-Fire The Secretary, Stop The Music, bred by Rutledge Farm in Middleburg, Va. Colonial Affair won the 1993 Belmont Stakes. Pollard, wife Nathalie Pollard and father-in-law Carl Bouckaert have owned him for two years.
Faudree ,32, of Southern Pines, N.C., said he thought that he “threw points away” with mistakes at the counter-canter and medium trot. But “all in all he stayed very rideable throughout the test, and overall I was happy.”
Faudree added, “It’s a disadvantage to go on Thursday morning [when the crowd is the smallest] with a horse who benefits from atmosphere. The more atmosphere there is around the ring, the less I have to kick and the more I can show off what he can do.”
Pawlow, 15, is an Irish-bred Thoroughbred gelding by Marcuzzi who finished sixth at the 2012 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event with Faudree aboard.
But Payne, who celebrated his marriage just a few weeks ago, thought that going on the quieter Thursday was an advantage for him. “Crown Talisman is a little more excitable, so it was good for him to get this experience,” he said.
Unlike the other leaders, Payne will not be starting on Saturday’s cross-country course, though. He’s received a Land Rover travel grant to compete Crown Talisman at the Saumur CCI4* in France later this year. Still, he had high praise for the cross-country course Derek di Grazia has created for this year’s event. Di Grazia has been designing the Rolex Kentucky course since 2011.
“It’s a hell of a lot easier to comment on a course that you don’t have to ride,” he said with a smile. “But I think that Derek often doesn’t get as much credit as he deserves. The great thing with his course is that if you jump into the first element right, it generally works out. The horses really read his questions well and jump them well. I don’t think he penalizes the horses.”
Said Pollard, the father of four young children, “This course always looks big to me. I have yet to walk a four-star where it seems easy. It may be a little bit stiffer this year, because it’s a World Championship selection trial, but it’s always hard.”
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Posted in Rolex Kentucky 3 Day Event at 8:15 pm by EPR
Lexington, KY- April 24, 2014-Jan Byyny and Will Faudree are the winners of the first awards to be presented at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Land Rover. At Wednesday evening’s welcome reception, they each earned a new pair of DuBarry boots as the best-dressed female and male riders at the first horse inspection, held on Wednesday afternoon.
Danny Hulse of DuBarry presented the fashionable waterproof boots to them.
Byyny of Purcellville, Va., is riding Inmidair at Rolex Kentucky.
Faudree, of Hoffman, N.C., is riding Pawlow at Rolex Kentucky.
Helen Sproat, a volunteer at Rolex Kentucky for more than 30 years, received the Lifetime Achievement Award.
This reception, held at historic Spindletop Hall outside of Lexington, also featured the annual drawing among the competitors for a Rolex watch. Kristin Schmolze of Califon, N.J., won the drawing.
This Rolex watch is one of two signature watches given each year by the event’s title sponsor-the event’s winner receives the second watch on Sunday afternoon. No rider has yet won both watches in the same year.
The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, Presented by Land Rover, April 24-27 at the Kentucky Horse Park, is one of the world’s most prestigious equestrian competitions and features the world’s best horses and riders vying for their share of $250,000 in prize money, as well as a shot at the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing, which is awarded to any rider who wins the Rolex Kentucky, Mitsubishi Motors Badminton and Land Rover Burghley four-star Events in succession.
The 2014 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event is a selection trial for the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games and will crown the 17th Rolex/USEF National CCI4* Champion. The only four-star event in the Western Hemisphere, Rolex Kentucky draws an estimated 60,000 to 70,000 spectators and is seen by millions more on worldwide telecasts.
This year, for the first time ever, Rolex Kentucky includes a team challenge. The Dubarry of Ireland Nations Team Challenge will award $20,000 in prize money, while helping national teams prepare for the team competition at the World Equestrian Games this summer. The winning nation will be the nation with the fewest penalties after adding together the final scores of the three highest-placed individuals from that nation.
Rolex Kentucky is a fun time for all in attendance. Aside from the competition, the event features exquisite shopping in the Sponsor Village; an International Trade Fair with almost 200 booths and tents displaying designer clothing, artwork, gifts, sport clothing, horse-related items, and event souvenir items; and the brand-new “Kentucky Uncovered,” which highlights products unique to the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Rolex Kentucky also features a variety of other entertaining attractions. General admission to the Kentucky Horse Park, America’s only theme park dedicated to horses, is included with each Rolex Kentucky ticket.
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Posted in John Nicholson, Kentucky Horse Park at 8:04 pm by EPR
Ted Nicholson Chosen to Manage Park During Search for Permanent Executive Director
LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 23, 2014) – The Kentucky Horse Park Commission announced today that it has selected Ted G. Nicholson as the interim executive director of the Kentucky Horse Park following the retirement of John Nicholson on April 30. Ted Nicholson will begin his tenure in May and serve until a permanent executive director is hired later this year. A search firm is expected to begin work to conduct a nationwide search for the permanent executive director within the next 30 days.
“The Kentucky Horse Park Commission is pleased to have Ted Nicholson join our team and lead the Kentucky Horse Park during this transition period,” said Alston Kerr, chair of the Kentucky Horse Park Commission. “With his success at operating multi-million-dollar equine and entertainment facilities at various locations throughout the country, we believe that Ted is the right person to serve as interim director.”
Nicholson currently serves as a partner with the Racing Resource Group, a horse racing consulting firm in Louisville. Prior to that, Nicholson was the vice president and general manager of the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, where he orchestrated the grand opening of the $240 million, 22,500-seat sports and concert facility. He also served as the interim president, corporate vice president and vice president of operations at Churchill Downs in Louisville. Before coming to Kentucky, Nicholson served as the chief operating officer of the New York City Off-Track Betting.
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04.23.14
Posted in Rolex Kentucky 3 Day Event at 10:27 pm by EPR
Lexington, Ky.- April 23, 2014 – In front of an eager crowd of about 500 people on a sunny and warm afternoon, the international ground jury accepted 60 of the horses presented for the first horse inspection at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Land Rover. The event begins on Thursday, April 24, and runs through Sunday, April 27.
A record number of horses-82-were entered for this year’s event, and riders presented 62 horses this afternoon to the ground jury of Sandy Phillips (Great Britain), Christina Klingspor (Sweden) and Gillian Rolton (Australia). Five horses were held for re-inspection, and three were accepted. Laine Ashker withdrew Anthony Patch before re-presenting him, and the jury did not accept Sir Oberon, ridden by Ellen Doughty.
Riders from seven nations-the United States, Canada, Great Britain, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland and Brazil -will be aiming for the top prizes that will be awarded on Sunday, including the coveted Rolex watch. The total prize money is $250,000, of which $80,000 will go to the winner.
For the first time, The Dubarry of Ireland Nations Team Challengewill award $20,000 in prize money, while helping national teams prepare for the team competition at the 2014 World Equestrian Games this summer. The standings of the teams from the United States, Canada and Great Britain will be determined each day by the overall scores of their three top-placed horses.
Dressage gets underway on Thursday at 10:00 a.m., continuing until 4 p.m., and resumes Friday from 10:00 to 4:00. Saturday features the cross-country phase, the heart of the competition, with the climactic show jumping phase on Sunday.
The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Presented by Land Rover, April 24-27 at the Kentucky Horse Park, is one of the world’s most prestigious equestrian competitions and features the world’s best horses and riders vying for their share of $250,000 in prize money, as well as a shot at the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing, which is awarded to any rider who wins the Rolex Kentucky, Mitsubishi Motors Badminton and Land Rover Burghley four-star Events in succession.
The 2014 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event is a selection trial for the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games and will crown the 17th Rolex/USEF National CCI4* Champion. The only four-star event in the Western Hemisphere, Rolex Kentucky draws an estimated 60,000 to 70,000 spectators and is seen by millions more on worldwide telecasts.
This year, for the first time ever, Rolex Kentucky includes a team challenge. The Dubarry of Ireland Nations Team Challenge will award $20,000 in prize money, while helping national teams prepare for the team competition at the World Equestrian Games this summer. The winning nation will be the nation with the fewest penalties after adding together the final scores of the three highest-placed individuals from that nation.
Rolex Kentucky is a fun time for all in attendance. Aside from the competition, the event features exquisite shopping in the Sponsor Village; an International Trade Fair with almost 200 booths and tents displaying designer clothing, artwork, gifts, sport clothing, horse-related items, and event souvenir items; and the brand-new “Kentucky Uncovered,” which highlights products unique to the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Rolex Kentucky also features a variety of other entertaining attractions. General admission to the Kentucky Horse Park, America’s only theme park dedicated to horses, is included with each Rolex Kentucky ticket.
Coverage of America’s only Four Star Event includes an NBC broadcast – the Rolex Equestrian Championships presented by Land Rover – which will air on Sunday, May 4. All four days of the competition is being streamed online LIVE on USEFNetwork.com, presented by SmartPak, beginning on Thursday, April 24.
For equestrian fans throughout the rest of the world, FEI TV is airing LIVE coverage of Saturday’s cross-country and Sunday’s show jumping competitions. To sign up for FEI TV, visit www.feitv.org.
The broadcast schedule is listed below, and is also available on the USEF Network coverage page, www.usefnetwork.com/featured/2014Rolex/. All broadcast times are subject to change.
* April 24: LIVE Dressage on USEFNetwork.com, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EDT
* April 25: LIVE Dressage on USEFNetwork.com, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EDT
* April 26: LIVE Cross-Country on USEFNetwork.com, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EDT
* April 27: LIVE Show Jumping on USEFNetwork.com, 1:15 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. EDT
Awards Ceremony on USEFNetwork.com, 3:00 p.m. EDT
* May 4: Rolex Equestrian Championships on NBC, 2:00-3:00 p.m. EDT
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04.01.14
Posted in Rolex Kentucky 3 Day Event at 9:43 pm by EPR
82 Horses Tops Record Set in 2012 Olympic Year
2013 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event winner Andrew Nicholson (NZL) and Quimbo (photo © David Toczko)
Lexington, KY – March 31, 2014 – Entries have poured in at a record pace for the 2014 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Presented by Land Rover, April 24-27, at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky. Entries have been filed for a record 82 horses, exceeding the previous record of 73 that were entered in 2012 in anticipation of the London Olympic Games.
Among the entries filed to compete in the only four-star Eventing competition in the Western Hemisphere are the world’s top riders on the FEI ranking list including:
- Andrew Nicholson of New Zealand (currently ranked Number 1), who won last year’s Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event on Quimbo while also placing third on Calico Joe;
- William Fox-Pitt of Great Britain (currently ranked Number 2), the two-time Rolex Kentucky champion who placed second last year on Seacookie TSF; and
- Bruce (Buck) Davidson, Jr. of the United States (currently ranked Number 3), who placed fourth last year on Ballynoe Castle RM to win the Rolex USEF Four Star Championship and USET Foundation Pinnacle Cup as the highest placed American rider while also winning the Land Rover Best Ride of the Day for being the U.S. rider finishing closest to the optimum time on cross country.
In all, riders from seven countries have filed entries including riders from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Great Britain, Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United States. Included is an impressive list of Olympic veterans and past Rolex Kentucky Champions who have their sights set on the coveted Rolex Kentucky title, especially as this year’s event will serve as a Selection Trial for the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games.
“As always, this year’s Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event has an impressive field of world-class horses and riders,” said Darren Ripley, President of Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI), producer of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. “While the number of horses that will ultimately compete is sure to be a little less than this, it is very exciting that the best riders from around the world have submitted this record number of entries assuring us that this year’s Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event is going to be the best ever!”
Included among the Olympic veterans and past Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event champions who have filed entries are:
- Andrew Nicholson of New Zealand, a six-time Olympic veteran with team Silver (1992) and team Bronze (1996 & 2012) medals and 2013 Rolex Kentucky CCI4* champion
- William Fox-Pitt of Great Britain, a four-time Olympic veteran with team Silver (2004 & 2012) and Bronze (2008) medals and the 2010 and 2012 Rolex Kentucky CCI4* champion
- Mark Todd of New Zealand, a six-time Olympic veteran with 2 individual Gold (1984 & 1988), team Silver (1992), individual Bronze (2000) and team Bronze (2012) medals
- William Coleman III of the U.S.A., an Olympic veteran (2012)
- Boyd Martin of the U.S.A., an Olympic veteran (2012)
- Hawley Bennett-Awad of Canada, a two-time Olympic veteran (2004 & 2012)
- Selena O’Hanlon of Canada, an Olympic veteran (2008)
- Ruy Fonseca of Brazil, an Olympic veteran (2012)
The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event is one of the world’s most prestigious equestrian competitions and features the world’s best horses and riders vying for their share of $250,000 in prize money as well as a shot at the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing which is awarded to any rider who wins theRolex Kentucky, Mitsubishi Motors Badminton and Land Rover Burghley Four Star Events in succession. For the first time ever, Rolex Kentucky will include a team challenge. The Dubarry of Ireland Nations Team Challenge will award $20,000 in prize money, while helping national teams prepare for the team competition at the 2014 World Equestrian Games this summer. The winning nation will be the nation with the fewest penalties after adding together the final scores of the three highest placed individuals from that nation.
Rolex Kentucky is a fun time for all in attendance. Aside from the competition, the event features exquisite shopping in the Sponsor Village; International Trade Fair with almost 200 booths and tents displaying designer clothing, artwork, gifts, sport clothing, horse-related items, Event souvenir items; and the brand new “Kentucky Uncovered.” “Kentucky Uncovered,” will highlight products unique to the state of Kentucky. Rolex Kentucky also features a variety of other entertaining attractions. General admission to the Kentucky Horse Park, America’s only theme park dedicated to horses, is included with each Rolex Kentucky ticket.
Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI) is a non-profit charitable Kentucky corporation that was established initially to produce the 1978 World Three-Day Event Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park. Following the success of those championships, EEI established an annual event which quickly evolved into what is today the only Four Star three-day event in the western hemisphere, the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. The Kentucky Reining cup was incorporated as part of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event schedule in 2011.
Several ticket options for attending the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event are available, including ringside hospitality packages. For complete information, please visit www.RK3DE.org or call 859-254-8123.Сео
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