04.25.18

Seven horses held, 46 moving forward to dressage at 2018 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event

Posted in Kentucky Three Day Event, Land Rover 3-Day Event at 8:43 pm by EPR

Lexington, Ky., April 25, 2018 — It was a drama filled first day at the 2018 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event as seven horses were held at the first horse inspection, though all but two would make their way through the inspection process to move on to the next phase of competition.

Savannah Fulton and Captain Jack jog for the ground jury at the first horse inspection. (c) Redbaystock.com

The first horse inspection is a chance for the ground jury of Christian, Landholt (SUI), Sue Baxter (GBR), Jane Hamlin (USA) and veterinary delegate Karen Nyrop (USA) to see the horses and determine if they appear fit and sound to start in the competition.

Caroline Martin’s Spring Easy, Colleen Loach’s Qorry Blue D’ Argouges, Sara Gumbiner’s Polaris and Alexandra Knowles’ Sound Prospect were all held, but then accepted upon re-inspection.

Erin Sylvester had a rough start to her weekend when both of her mounts, Mettraise and Paddy The Caddy, were sent to the holding box. Paddy the Caddy was passed upon re-inspection, but sadly Mettraise was not.

Joe Meyer of New Zealand’s Johnny Royale was withdrawn after being held.

One of the international rider, Oliver Townsend of Great Britain, and Cooley Master Class present to the ground jury during the first horse inspection. (c) Redbaystock.com

Two horses on the entry list, Veronica ridden by Lauren Kieffer and Obos O’Reilly ridden by William Coleman were on the entry list, but did not present at the first horse inspection, as they will be contesting Badminton Horse Trials in England next week.

The remaining 46 horses will start the dressage Thursday, the first of three phases for these brave horse-and-rider pairs. Dressage will run Thursday and Friday, with the exciting cross-country on Saturday, and the event culminating in a nail biting finish in the show jumping on Sunday.

Phillip Dutton is clearly hoping to win a new pair of Dubarry of Ireland boots as the best-dressed man at the first horse inspection.

The first horse inspection is a chance for the riders to “strut their stuff” along with their horses, and the best dressed man and woman from Wednesday’s inspection will be chosen and awarded a pair of Dubarry boots.

About the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event:
The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event is the nation’s premier three-day event. Known as “the best weekend all year,” this multi-day competition features the world’s best horses and riders vying for their share of $400,000 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 Land Rover Kentucky, Mitsubishi Motors Badminton and Land Rover Burghley Four Star Events in succession. Land Rover Kentucky is one of only six annual Four Star Three-Day Events in the world and the only one in the Western Hemisphere.

This event also serves as the Rolex/USEF CCI**** championship for the American riders.

Also featured as a part of the competition is the Dubarry of Ireland Nations Cup Team Challenge, with each team vying for $20,000 in prize money. Four teams will line up for their share of the winnings.

The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event will be broadcast on NBC on Sunday, May 6, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. EDT. It will also be broadcast on the Olympic Channel on May 26, from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. EDT. USEFNetwork.com will livestream the competition in its entirety. Competition will also be archived and available on demand.

The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event will host a $225,000 Invitational Grand Prix on Saturday, April 28 after the completion of the cross-country phase. In addition to the $225,000 Invitational Grand Prix, there will be a $35,000 1.45m FEI ranking class on Friday, April 27, following the completion of the CCI’s dressage competition.

Spectators can also shop at the Sponsor Village and International Trade Fair with almost 200 booths and tents. Land Rover Kentucky also features tailgating, glamorous camping “glamping”, a fund-raising dinner on Thursday evening, the Head Up Heels Down 5K race on Friday evening, and Champions Live! on Sunday morning.

For further information: www.kentuckythreedayevent.com

04.30.17

Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event 2017 Results

Posted in Eventing, Rolex Kentucky 3 Day Event, Three-Day Eventing at 7:58 pm by EPR

Jung Scores A Three-Peat at Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, Presented by
Land Rover
 
Lexington, KY, April 30, 2017-In the 39-year history of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Land Rover, only three riders have ever managed to win two years in a row. But Michael Jung made history by winning the 2017 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event for a third consecutive time aboard FischerRocana FST. The German duo lowered one rail in show jumping to finish on 42.7 penalties, just ahead of France’s Maxime Livio and Qalao Des Mers in second (44.6) and England’s Zara Tindall and High Kingdom in third (46.6).
Michael Jung was all smiles when he received  the Rolex watch for winning with FischerRocana FST at Rolex Kentucky. (Michelle Dunn Photo)

By placing fourth, a pair of U.S. veterans, Phillip Dutton and Mr. Medicott (54.6), who took home the Roger Haller Memorial Trophy for the Rolex/USEF CCI4* Eventing National Championship. Dutton won the national championship for a record fifth time, and his finish this weekend on three horses gives him an astounding 40 completions at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Land Rover.

Show jumping day was hot and blustery, but that didn’t prevent 24,159 fans from packing the Rolex Stadium to see the best in the world compete for $400,000 in prize money. Double-clean rounds were few and far between, with only one coming in the first session, for Will Faudree and Pfun. There would only be three more in the second session, for Livio, Tindall and Kurt Martin on Delux Z. Dutton and Mr. Medicott would leave all the rails in the cups, but add 1 time penalty to his score.
Jung, 34, Horb, Germany, would continue his streak of not being perfect, but still being good enough, by having a rail down in the triple combination. However, his six-point lead going in to the show jumping allowed for one mistake to claim the victory.
One rail down was not enough to keep Michael Jung of Germany from winning Rolex Kentucky aboard FischerRocana FST (Michelle Dunn Photo)

“Without the horse you are just walking people, I’m not sure how you say that in English,” said Jung with a laugh. “This is a very wonderful horse, she is absolutely a top horse, and she is always fighting for me. We have a partnership, I know everything that she needs for me to motivate her. But she was perfect. I am so thankful for my whole team and my horse.”

Jung went on to say the he felt his rail in the triple combination had begun earlier on course when she spooked at the stark white rails of an the Race Track Rail combination. “Maybe I used my hands too much,” he admitted. “Then we had the problem in the triple and I had two more jumps so that made me nervous!”
Maxime Livio and Qalao Des Mers of France were nearly perfect, but had to settle for second place at Rolex Kentucky. (Michelle Dunn Photo)

Livio, 29, Saumur, France, had been chasing Jung all weekend, and he is the only person to have beaten him in recent memory, but he settled for second place today. His powerful double-clean round put the pressure on Jung as he cantered out of the ring.

“There is always a little pressure in the ring, especially at a four-star with all the top riders,” Livio said. “With my horse, I just have to stick to him and stick to my ride, and if I do that the pressure goes down. I know if I’m very focused on my riding, the horse will do his best. But, of course there is pressure because I want to be good enough for my horse, and after that it’s good for me to start to put pressure on (Jung). I think to try beat such a rider you have to be 100 percent all the time. All this week my horse was 100 percent, but I was maybe only 90 percent in dressage. But after that I have no regrets.”
Zara Tindall and High Kingdom of Great Britain had a much better trip this time, to finish third at Rolex Kentucky. (Michelle Dunn Photo)

Tindall, 35, Gloucestershire, England, came in to this event keeping her expectations in check following a difficult trip to the Kentucky Horse Park two years ago where an injury in the stable prevented her from even starting. But each day she put in a sparkling performances to, like Livio, be one of only two to finish on their dressage score.

“I’m obviously very lucky to come back and very thankful to my owner and to Land Rover and Rolex to be able to come back,” she said. “It’s great to be sitting up here with these guys. My horse was fantastic all the way through the competition -he jumped great today.
“He doesn’t owe me anything,” added Tindall, noting the horse has been in the ribbons at several four stars and has an Olympic medal and a World Championship medal on his resume. “I loved riding him all weekend. This is such a fantastic competition, thanks for having it.”
Dutton came to Kentucky without his usual enthusiasm. In the fall of 2016, his step-daughter LeeLee Jones suffered a devastating head injury while riding, and has been in the hospital or a rehabilitation facility ever since. “It’s not easy,” he said, emotion coloring his voice. “LeeLee is in rehab at Bryn Mawr and I’m very glad for the livestreaming because she apparently loved watching. But it’s a struggle and it’s something I hope you all don’t ever have to go through. Everybody in the horse world has been great–it’s a great  family to be a part of.”
Veteran competitors Phillip Dutton and Mr. Medicott took home the Roger Haller Memorial Trophy for the Rolex/USEF CCI4* Eventing National Championship. (Michelle Dunn Photo)

Dutton, 53, West Grove, Pa., brought three horses to Kentucky, and all three finished in the top 10, with Fernhill Fugitive finishing eighth (63.0) and I’m Sew Ready finishing 10th (69.1). But it was his top placing mount, Mr. Medicott, who brought Dutton his fifth national championship.

“Cave,” as he is known, is 18 this year, well past the age that many horses are competing at this level, but he has Olympic performances to his name and was bought for Dutton with those goals in mind. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury and has spent the last two years recovering, but after showing Dutton he was ready, he earned a trip to Rolex Kentucky.
“I was quite unsure about whether I should bring him,” Dutton admitted. “He’s been off for two years, but there wasn’t much else for him the rest of the year that was suitable, and for a horse like this, this is an appropriate event. But for him to show so much heart-I mean, I only did one horse trial on him in two years. He’s such as an incredible horse. I probably didn’t have him fit enough, but he was just incredible this weekend.”
While the horse looked wonderful all weekend, Dutton announced that he would be retiring Mr. Medicott from this level of competition.
In the Dubarry of Ireland Nations Team Challenge, Team USA jumped out in front of the combined New Zealand/France/Germany team to win with a score of 179.2. The combined team finished second with 180.3 over Team Canada in third with 231.5. Team USA included Hannah Sue Burnett/Under Suspection, Boyd Martin/Cracker Jack, Dutton/Fernhill Fugitive, and Lauren Kieffer/Vermiculus.
Ballynoe Castle RM gets a special bouquet during his retirement ceremony from rider Buck Davidson and groom Kathleen Blauth-Murray. (Michelle Dunn Photo)

Prior to the show jumping, Buck Davidson retired his venerable mount Ballynoe Castle RM in front of cheering crowds. Buck and “Reggie’s” friends and family turned out to wish the Irish Sport Horse gelding a happy retirement. Davidson and his long-time groom Kathleen Blauth-Murray choked back tears as they draped him in flowers and a blanket commemorating his long career.

In all, 80,654 people came to the Kentucky Horse Park this weekend to enjoy amazing performances at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Land Rover.

03.31.11

April is the Greatest, so come to Kentucky.

Posted in Attractions, CCI****, Events of Interest, Keeneland, Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, My Thoughts, Rolex Kentucky 3 Day Event, Thoroughbred Racing, Three-Day Eventing at 3:46 pm by Thomas

April is the kickoff of so many things horsey in Kentucky and some not so horsey that for me its the best month of the year.  The month starts out with the Kentucky Wildcats on the verge of winning a Championship, I know not a horse related event but certainly a Kentucky event.

Keeneland’s Spring Meet starts the 8th and runs through the 29th with the last major Prep Races for the both the Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks.  Keeneland is certainly one of the most beautiful Thoroughbred Race Tracks in the country and with the Kentucky Red Buds and Dog Woods in full bloom it maybe nearly Angelic.

The Kentucky Horse Park starts the month with the Kentucky Spring Arabian Show, then mid-month the Kentucky Spring Premiere kicks off the Saddlebred show season…(DRUM ROLL PLEASE) To finish the month, The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, the only Four-Star Three-Day on North American Soil, with all that excitement I am not sure how I will survive the month.

For more information check out,

Kentucky Horse Park Calendar.

Keeneland

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10.03.10

Eventing: Stadium Jumping Course

Posted in 2010 Games, Disciplines, Eventing, Three-Day Eventing, World Equestrian Games at 9:58 am by Thomas

The Course for the final phase of Eventing, Stadium Jumping has been put online and it looks to be well thought out both from the horse/rider perspective as well as the spectator perspective.  The link for the video of the map is provided below.

Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

Eventing: [Stadium Jumping Course Map(Video)]

02.27.10

Tickets to the Final Series of Official Test Events for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Now On Sale

Posted in 2010 Games, CCI****, Dressage, Pre-Events, Rolex Kentucky 3 Day Event, Show Jumping, Test Event, Three-Day Eventing at 2:16 pm by Thomas

LEXINGTON, KY—The 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games will host its final series of Kentucky Cup Test Events, held in conjunction with the annual Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. Dressage, Eventing and Jumping competitions will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park April 20-25.

Tickets to all events are now on sale. To purchase tickets to Kentucky Cup Dressage, the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event and Kentucky Cup Jumping, visit https://www.ticketreturn.com/prod2/team.asp?SponsorID=2513.

“This final series of test events will be an important test of the planning for many of the competition aspects of the Games,” said Kate Jackson, Vice President of Competition for the World Games 2010 Foundation. “By hosting sessions of different disciplines on several days, we will really be able to test many of our procedures for the actual Games.”

Kentucky Cup Dressage will begin the week of official test events. The schedule includes:

Tuesday, April 20                              9:00 a.m.             Dressage Grand Prix

Wednesday, April 21                        10:00 a.m.           Grand Prix Special

Thursday, April 22                            7:00 p.m.             Dressage Freestyle

The Freestyle competition on April 22 is a ticketed event priced at $15. All Kentucky Cup Dressage events will be held in the Outdoor Stadium. The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event includes:

Thursday, April 22                            9:00 a.m.              Dressage
Friday, April 23                                 9:00 a.m.              Dressage
Saturday, April 24                             9:00 a.m.              Cross Country
Sunday, April 25                               Noon                     Jumping

For more information about the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, go to www.rk3de.org.

Kentucky Cup Jumping will complete the official test events for the 2010 Games. The schedule includes:

Friday, April 23                                 7:00 p.m.             Warm –Up class
Saturday, April 24                             7:00 p.m.             Jumping Grand Prix
Sunday, April 25                                6:00 p.m.            Speed Class

Saturday’s Jumping Grand Prix is a ticketed event priced at $20. Tickets to the Speed Class on Sunday will be $15. All Kentucky Cup Jumping sessions will be held in the Outdoor Stadium.

01.20.10

2010 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Returns April 22-25

Posted in CCI****, Kentucky Horse Park, Rolex Kentucky 3 Day Event, Three-Day Eventing at 7:44 am by Thomas

 Kentucky Horse Park To Host CCI**** Event – Tickets Currently On Sale 

Lexington, KY – January 19, 2010- The excitement of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI**** returns to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, April 220in The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, part of the HSBC FEI ClassicsTM Series, attracts many of the world’s best horses and riders as they vie for their share of $250,000 in prize money. 

Enhancing this year’s schedule will be the official Kentucky Cup Dressage and Jumping Test Events for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG).  The Games will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park, September 25-October 10, marking the first time that equestrian sport’s biggest event is being held outside Europe. 

In addition to the excitement surrounding this year’s Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event and WEG events, will be the attempt by Oliver Townend of Great Britain to become only the second rider in history to win the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing, awarded to any rider who wins theRolex Kentucky, Mitsubishi Motors Badminton and Land Rover Burghley Four Star Events in succession. Townend has won the first two legs and at Rolex Kentucky next April, he will seek to join Pippa Funnell of Great Britain, who did it in 2003, as the only riders to win the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing. 

“Equestrian enthusiasts everywhere are going to want to have a front-row seat to this year’s Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event,” said Jane Atkinson, Event Director and Executive Vice President of Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI), producer of the event. “The level of excitement at EEI is almost tangible, as we know this is going to be a year for the record books and one not to be missed by any equestrian sports fan!”

The only Four Star Event in the Western Hemisphere, the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event is the premier competition for the top horses and riders in the Olympic discipline of Eventing.  Past winners include United States Olympic Medalists David and Karen O’Connor, Kim Severson and Phillip Dutton, New Zealand’s Blyth Tait and Nick Larkin, Pippa Funnell of Great Britain and Andrew Hoy and Clayton and Lucinda Fredericks of Australia.   

For more information, or to purchase tickets to the 2010 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, please visit the Rolex Kentucky website at www.rk3de.org.  You may order your tickets online, or complete the ticket order form and return via mail or fax (859-254-5116) to Equestrian Events, Inc. Phone orders: (859) 254-8123. To receive a printed ticket brochure, send name and mailing address to EEI at P.O. Box 12110, Lexington, KY 40580-2110. 

09.22.09

Oliver Townend Wins Second Leg of Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing

Posted in Badminton Horse Trials, Burghley Horse Trials, CCI****, Rolex Kentucky 3 Day Event, Three-Day Eventing at 9:15 pm by Thomas

Will Seek To Become Second Rider Ever to Complete Slam at 2010 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event  

Lexington, KY-September 22, 2009-Oliver Townend of Great Britain is poised to achieve what only one other event rider in the world has ever done, claim the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing. 

In September of 2003, Pippa Funnell of Great Britain became the first rider in history to win the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing when she rode Primmore’s Pride to victory at the Burghley Horse Trials in England following back-to-back wins in the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event in April aboard Primmore’s Prideand the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials in May aboard Supreme Rock.  Funnell completed her sweep of the three CCI**** events at Burghley to win $250,000, the purse at that time, and a Pink Gold 18-carat Datejust Rolex watch.  The payoff was the largest in Eventing history.
 
Townend, 26, claimed a victory in May in the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials aboard Flint Curtis and in September won another leg of the Rolex Grand Slam when he and Carousel Quest bested a field of 49 to win the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials.  Carousel Quest placed eighth at Rolex Kentucky last spring.  It was the first four star outing for Ollie and Carousel Quest as a pair and served as another indication of how Rolex Kentuckyand its courses designed by Mike Etherington-Smith continue to build champions. 
 
“We all took note when this young combination of Oliver Townend and Carousel Quest performed so well at Rolex Kentucky last spring,” said Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Director, Jane Atkinson.  “Mike Etherington-Smith has a unique ability to bring out the talent in young horses and help them develop, and we can’t wait to welcome back Ollie and Carousel Quest next spring as the new Burghley Champions!”
 
Townend’s success comes as no surprise.  His father rode at Burghley and his mother showed sidesaddle at County level so it was not unexpected that success came early for him in the form of a place on the Pony Eventing Team and countless show jumping victories.  Now, with two major four star wins, he is poised to take his place in Eventing history.
 
Will he be able to join Pippa Funnell as the only riders to sweep the Rolex Grand Slam? We will find out at the 2010 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event next April 22-25!
Further information on the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event is available at the Rolex Kentucky website at www.rk3de.org.

09.08.09

BADMINTON & KENTUCKY AGREE DATES

Posted in Badminton Horse Trials, CCI****, Equestrian Events Inc, Rolex Kentucky 3 Day Event, Three-Day Eventing at 7:27 pm by Thomas

The Organisers of the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials and the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event have been able to avoid a clash of dates in the future.
 
Badminton announced earlier this year that it would be running over the weekend of the May Day bank holiday from 2010, with cross country day on the Sunday and show jumping on the holiday Monday. Unfortunately, this very occasionally clashes with the traditional Kentucky date, the cross country for which has been the last Saturday in April since 1987.
 
It has now been agreed that in 2011 Badminton will run one week earlier, i.e. 22-25 April, which, being the Easter weekend, will still enable the event to climax on a bank holiday Monday. In 2016, Kentucky in turn has agreed to run a week earlier than it otherwise would so that Badminton can maintain their holiday Monday schedule.
 
Both Event Directors, Hugh Thomas and Janie Atkinson, salute the agreement as demonstrating the good relationship between the leading international events and being in the best interests of the sport of eventing, which would not have been well served by a clash of two of the three Rolex Grand Slam events or indeed two of the HSBC FEI Classic Four Star Events.
 
Event Dates until 2016 are now as follows:
 
           Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials          Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event
2010    30 April – 3 May                                                   22 – 25 April
2011    22 – 25 April                                                      28 April – 1 May
2012    4 – 7 May                                                            26 – 29 April
2013    3 – 6 May                                                            25 – 28 April
2014    2 – 5 May                                                            24 – 27 April
2015    1 – 4 May                                                            23 – 26 April
2016    29 April – 2 May                                                  21 – 24 April
 
Further Information Badminton:
Julian Seaman, Badminton Press Officer, 41 Gastein Road, London, W6 8LT
T: + 44 (0) 207 385 0591; F: + 44 (0) 207 386 9820; E: j.seaman2@sky.com
Also:
Mitsubishi Motors Press Office
T: + 44 (0) 1285 647200; E: pressoffice@mitsubishi-cars.co.uk
 
Further Information Kentucky:
Marty Bauman, Rolex Kentucky Press Officer, Classic Communications, 38 Mechanic Street, Suite 101, Foxboro, MA 02035
T: 001 508-698-6810; F: 508-698-6811 E: marty@classic-communications.com 
Also:
Jane Atkinson, Event Director, Equestrian Events, Inc., P.O. Box 12110, Lexington, KY 40580-2110
T: 001 859-233-2362; F: 859-254-5116; E: eeiusa@windstream.net

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