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Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Welcomes World’s Best Riders

(MAHWAH, N.J.) – April 19, 2017 – Land Rover North America announced it will be returning to the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event as Presenting Sponsor and Official Vehicle for the eighth year running. The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event is the highlight of the eventing season in North America as the USEF National Championship and only 4* FEI level competition in the U.S. The event takes place from April 27-30, 2017 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky.

Each year the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event attracts the world’s best horse-and-rider combinations. Heading the list this year is Rio Olympic gold medalist, Michael Jung of Germany, who successfully defended his Rolex-Kentucky title last year on FischerRocana FST. This year the formidable pair returns hoping to make history by becoming the first horse-and-rider combination to win America’s only Four Star event three consecutive years.

Along with Michael Jung, Rolex-Kentucky welcomes back Land Rover Ambassador Zara Tindall and her 2012 London Olympic silver medal horse, High Kingdom. Tindall, granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II, won Eventing’s World Championship in 2006.

Also returning this year is the “Land Rover Best Ride of the Day” program, which rewards the U.S. athlete who finishes closest to the optimum time on the cross-country course with no jumping penalties. Since its inception, the program has been won by legends of the sport including Olympic bronze medalist Phillip Dutton, and the 2016 winner of the prize, Olympian and U.S. Land Rover Eventing Team athlete Lauren Kieffer. This year, the winning athlete will receive a 24-month lease of a Land Rover Discovery Sport and will be presented with the keys following the cross-country competition on the Saturday.

Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI), producer of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Presented by Land Rover, has announced a prize money increase for the third year in a row, now up to $400,000. The victorious rider will receive a check for $130,000, which is the highest amount awarded at any of the world’s four-star three-day events. This reflects the growth of the competition which is now firmly established as one of the top three-day events in the world.

“The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event is one of the most prestigious competitions in the world and we are proud to be continuing our long-standing relationship with the event and the equestrian community. We are also excited to welcome the world’s best riders, especially our Land Rover ambassador Zara Tindall,” said Kim McCullough, Vice President of Marketing, Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC. “Kentucky is ‘the home of the horses’ and provides the perfect environment to showcase our vehicles. We look forward to what promises to be another exciting weekend.”

“We are excited that Land Rover is once again returning as the Presenting sponsor of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event,” said Lee Carter, EEI Executive Director. “Their support has helped create unique experiences and memories for our guests that make them want to come back to Kentucky, year after year.”

The USEF Network will live stream the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover beginning on Thursday, April 26 at 3:00 p.m. EST. In addition, two nationally televised broadcasts will air on the following stations and times: NBC on Sunday, May 7, from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. EST and NBCSN on Sunday, May 28, from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. EST.

To learn more about the 2017 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Presented by Land Rover, please visit: www.RK3DE.org.

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