Tag Archives: Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event

Price Just Holds the Advantage after Cross Country Thriller

Tim Price (NZL) and Wesko, who just hold the advantage after a thrilling Cross Country day at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event (USA), third leg of FEI Classics™ 2014/2015. (Anthony Trollope/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 26 April, 2015 – The scene is set for a gripping finale to the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event (USA), third leg of the FEI Classics™ 2014/2015, after New Zealander Tim Price just managed to hold off the challenge of his joint Dressage leader Michael Jung (GER) by a mere 0.4 of a penalty after a challenging day of Cross Country.

Price’s round on Wesko was a masterpiece of accuracy and fluency, but he was held on course for about nine minutes while a fence was repaired. Although he had to stand around getting soaked in the pouring rain, the delay ultimately played to his advantage as he finished four seconds inside the optimum time of 11 minutes 6 seconds with a fresh horse that is known to shine in the Jumping stadium.

Jung’s Cross Country riding on his old friend La Biosthetique Sam FBW, the horse that gave him European, World and Olympic titles, was breath-taking for its boldness and commitment. He finished just one second over time, but, so harmonious is this partnership, it’s hard to see where he could have saved it.

The 32-year-old German is also in third place, within a Jumping fence of the leader, on his first horse, FisherRocana FST, having finished free of time penalties when the ground was at its best at the start of the day.

“I think the hold was a benefit because with a horse like mine you can just pick up and go. He jumped really well and dug deep when required,” said a delighted Price. “I couldn’t be happier with the horse. After last year in Normandy [at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™] when we didn’t finish the course, it’s nice to come here and get this one under our belt.”

Jung, returning to Kentucky for the first time since winning the world title in 2010, was visibly elated to have the 15-year-old Sam back in action after a layoff in the second half of last season. “I feel so safe on him,” he said.

“He was wonderful and gave me such a good feeling, still galloping very well at the end. The ground was wet but not too deep because the course had been prepared so well.”

With major thunderstorms expected, Cross Country was brought forward and horses run at three-minute intervals in an attempt to beat the weather. It still rained very heavily, though, and four of the six riders to achieve the optimum time went in the earlier part of the day.

William Fox-Pitt (GBR) predicted that his 2014 winner Bay My Hero, which is not full Thoroughbred, might struggle with the time if the ground became wet. They had a beautiful round, with Fox-Pitt masterfully finding the best going for his horse, but their 8.4 penalties has dropped them a place to fourth.

A determined Bill Levett (AUS) bucked the trend when he ran near the end of the day on Improvise and, despite a couple of erratic moments early on, managed to finish within the time to rise 14 places to fifth.

Old friends Boyd Martin (USA), on CCI4* first-timer Master Frisky, and Phillip Dutton (USA), riding Mighty Nice, brought the day to a stirring finish with two fantastic rounds and they are now in sixth and seventh places. Dutton is also ninth on Fernhill Cubalawn.

Will Coleman (USA), riding Obos O’Reilly, leapt from 31st to eighth with a clean sheet and earned himself the use of a Land Rover for a year as the American rider finishing nearest the optimum time.

Colleen Rutledge (USA) gave a brilliant display of pathfinding on her experienced horse Shiraz, rising from equal 49th after Dressage to 14th. Later on, she rode an equally proficient round on her home-bred Covert Rights, dropping from fifth to 10th place with 12 time penalties.

There were 46 finishers from the 71 Cross Country starters; they produced 33 clear rounds and some brave displays of riding in the testing conditions.

Kentucky first-timer Elisa Wallace, who has risen 10 places to 12th on Simply Priceless, was particularly impressive. “I knew I would have to ride my butt off at my first four-star, but I felt my horse and I were a good team and attacking the course,” she said. “We eventers don’t melt! We have to ride in the rain and suck it up.”

Five of the top 10 after Dressage departed from the scoreboard. Mackenna Shea (USA), sixth, had a fall with Landioso at the double of corners (fence 21) and Laine Ashker (USA), seventh, had a refusal with Anthony Patch at the angled brush at Fence 9b.

Lauren Kieffer (USA), eighth, retired Veronica after a glance-off in the Head of the Lake and Marilyn Little (USA), ninth, retired after an early stop at fence 5 on RF Demeter. Jessica Pheonix (CAN) withdrew LLC Pavarotti.

Will Faudree (USA), who is in 20th place on Andromaque, hit the open corners at fence 21 and became the first CCI4* rider to incur 11 penalties for breaking a frangible pin under the new rule.

Britain’s Francis Whittington (GBR), currently 16th, was lucky to avoid the same fate when Easy Target slid across the corner at the Land Rover Hollow and comprehensively demolished it. Fortunately for his score, it was not a pinned fence; the pair continued quite unscathed and the fence-repair team did an admirable job to rebuild it so quickly.

Course Designer Derek di Grazia should be pleased with his day’s work; his track earned plenty of plaudits, exerted the right influence and produced a great day for the sport, despite the awful weather. Now, though, all thoughts turn to the final Jumping phase and the intriguing question of whether Tim Price can continue to hold off the phenomenal Michael Jung.

Follow all the action live for the Jumping, which starts at 1pm Kentucky time on www.feitv.org with live results on www.rk3de.org and see the Cross Country review on FEI YouTube here: https://youtu.be/3ovg_vK2E6E.

Use hashtags #FEIClassics and #Eventing.

By Kate Green

Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Media Contact:

Marty Baumann
marty@classic-communications.com
+001 5088782394

At FEI:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 45

Tim Price Takes the Lead at 2015 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event after Day 3 Cross-Country

Tim Price and Wesko.

Lexington, USA, 25 April 2015 – New Zealand’s Tim Price put in a perfect performance on his horse Wesko with a superlative ride in the cross-country on his first time competing in the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, with a clean double clear, keeping him in first place going into tomorrow’s final show jumping phase. Germany’s Michael Jung, the joint overnight leader, is in both second and third place on his two rides, with Great Britain’s William Fox-Pitt in fourth.

Despite the challenging conditions on the course with heavy rain throughout the morning, the riders from nine nations delighted the 31,500 fans that attended the Kentucky Horse Park for the cross-country phase.

Michael Jung was the first to go of the top three placed riders on his horse Fischerrocana FST, and gave another impeccable ride completing one of only six double clears. This set the bar high for the other chasing riders. Price was the next of the top placed riders to go mid-morning and he was thrilled with his ride finishing within the optimum time, despite being held out on-course due to a fence needing repairs.

Last year’s Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event winner, William Fox-Pitt, was the 65th rider out on course and yet again he showed his world class with a clear round, but picked up 8.4 time penalties dropping him down one place into fourth position. Jung was 67th to go out, and under the now testing conditions, he guided his Olympic and World Champion horse La Biosthetique – SAM FBW to a clear round with just 0.4 of a time fault. This could cost Jung dearly in tomorrow’s final show jumping phase if Price can go clear and claim his first Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event title – it will also put him on course for the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing prize.

TOP STATISTICS

71 horse and rider partnerships started the cross-country phase; 46 finished; 15 were eliminated; 10 retired and only six went double clear.

TOP 5 PLACINGS AFTER DAY 3 CROSS-COUNTRY

1st    Tim Price (NZL), Wesko, 36.3
2nd   Michael Jung (GER), La Biosthetique – SAM FBW, 36.7
3rd   Michael Jung (GER), Fischerrocanna FST, 39.3
4th   William Fox-Pitt (GBR), Bay My Hero, 46.9
5th   William Levett (AUS), Improvise, 48.6

For full results, please visit: www.rk3de.org/results.

RIDER QUOTES

Tim Price: “That was good, I think! I came home clear and in the time so that’s always the primary task. [I went the long way on fences 8 and 9] the last couple of years he has been a very honest horse – when he was coming up through to advanced level he had a couple of blips at little questions like that so I just thought it was one place to mind myself a little bit as it’s early on; he was fresh and can catch them out a little bit at the hollow – I just had a bit of a gut feeling and he’s very quick on the long way round; he’s tight on his turns and still had plenty of gas in the tank.”

Michael Jung and La Biosthetique - SAM FBW
Michael Jung and La Biosthetique – SAM FBW

Michael Jung, speaking after his ride on Sam: “I am very happy – he was really wonderful. He had a long break; he was finished after Aachen. My feeling here in the cross-country was very good. He was a bit looking also like my other horse at the hollow but on the other fences he was very, very good. He was galloping very well in the end – I was a little bit too easy and a little bit too slow but I am very happy about my round.”

William Fox-Pitt: “I am delighted with him. I was worried about the ground for him today; going at the end of the day the ground had really deteriorated – he is not a thoroughbred horse and hasn’t got the scopiest gallop and so I knew it was going to be hard work. He really worked hard all the way – he was fab; I was chuffed to bits with him; he was perfect over the fences working really hard all the way. Hopefully he will be feeling good tomorrow and he’ll jump well!”

THE ROLEX GRAND SLAM OF EVENTING

When Rolex was inspired to link the three foremost eventing competitions in the world into a Grand Slam in 2001, it was immediately apparent that it would require a series of outstanding performances from a remarkable athlete to complete the challenge.

Kentucky and Badminton – the British horse trials on which the modern sport of eventing was founded – run two weeks apart in the spring, and Burghley, in the east of England, is the autumn highlight of the global sport. All three have stunning settings and attract vast crowds over the four days of competition.

To date, only one rider – Rolex Eventing Testimonee Pippa Funnell – has won this most prestigious series. In 2003 the much-medalled mainstay of British teams for many years took the Rolex Kentucky crown on Primmore’s Pride. She progressed to Badminton a week later and won there on Supreme Rock, her double European Champion, and added the Burghley title that autumn on Primmore’s Pride – beating Zara Phillips into second place on her four-star debut at the same time. Pippa Funnell immediately joined the ranks of sporting greats, respected by her peers and the media alike as an exceptional athlete.

Michael Jung and Fischerrocanna FST
Michael Jung and Fischerrocanna FST

Since then, two of the three legs of the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing have been won by four riders: the Australian Andrew Hoy, Britain’s William Fox-Pitt and Oliver Townend, and the New Zealand hero of six Olympic Games and current live Rolex Grand Slam contender, Andrew Nicholson. None of these top-class riders have yet succeeded in triumphing over the series and winning the final element of the Rolex Grand Slam.

ABOUT ROLEX

Leading brand of the Swiss watch industry, Rolex, headquartered in Geneva, enjoys an unrivalled reputation for quality and expertise the world over. Its Oyster watches, all certified as chronometers for their precision, are symbols of excellence, performance and prestige. Pioneer in the development of the wristwatch as early as 1905, the brand is at the origin of numerous major watchmaking innovations, such as the Oyster, the first waterproof wristwatch, launched in 1926, and the Perpetual rotor self-winding mechanism introduced in 1931. Rolex has registered over 400 patents in the course of its history. A truly integrated and independent manufacturing company, Rolex designs, develops and produces in-house all the essential components of its watches, from the casting of the gold alloys to the machining, crafting, assembly and finishing of the movement, case, dial and bracelet. Rolex also actively supports the arts, sports, exploration, the spirit of enterprise, and the environment through a broad palette of sponsoring activities, as well as philanthropic programmes.

Website:
www.rolex.com

Revolution Sports + Entertainment
Merrick Haydon
merrick@revolutionsports.co.uk
+44 77481 868 33

Michael Jung Dominates Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event on Day 2 Dressage

Michael Jung and La Biosthetique – SAM FBW.

Lexington, USA, 24 April 2015 – Michael Jung stamped his class on the 2015 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event on Day 2 of the dressage phase by taking the joint lead on his second ride of the competition on La Biosthetique – SAM FBW. Jung also lies in fourth position on his other horse Fischerrocana FST, who was yesterday’s overnight leader. Jung is tied in first place with New Zealand’s Tim Price and Great Britain’s William Fox-Pitt is in third.

Unfortunately just minutes before Rolex Eventing Testimonee Zara Phillips was due to compete in her first Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event in the dressage phase, Phillips had to withdraw due to her horse High Kingdom being lame, having picked up a minor injury earlier in the morning.

Jung has happy memories of the Kentucky Horse Park, having become World Champion there in 2010 and now has a double chance of claiming the Rolex title with both his rides going into the cross-country phase tomorrow in top form. However, Great Britain’s William Fox-Pitt who has won the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event title three times – in 2010, 2012 and 2014 – is in a strong position lying just 2.2 points behind Jung on his Bay My Hero, and is ready to defend his title.

The competition is extremely tight with 37 horse and rider partnerships within just one cross-country fence penalty so everything is to play for.

TOP 5 PLACINGS AFTER DAY 2 DRESSAGE

1st=   Michael Jung (GER), La Biosthetique – SAM FBW, 36.3
1st=   Tim Price (NZL), Wesko, 36.3
3rd     William Fox-Pitt (GBR), Bay My Hero, 38.5
4th     Michael Jung (GER), Fischerrocanna FST, 39.3
5th     Colleen Rutledge (USA), Covert Rights, 42.3

For full results, please visit: www.rk3de.org/results.

RIDER QUOTES

Michael Jung: “I feel very happy; both my horses have done a wonderful job. Sam was a little bit nervous but everything works well. It was a very big atmosphere and we are only at the beginning of the season and I am very happy about it.”

Tim Price and Wesko
Tim Price and Wesko

Tim Price: “I was very aware that it was a very strong field this year and that made the challenge quite serious – I came to do what I did today because he is a very capable horse and I just wanted to put my best foot forward. The preparation prior to the test over the last three days – just the suppleness of the horse and when we got into the ring today and the atmosphere gave him the lift and the extra dynamic I think to use to our advantage.”

Great Britain Performance Manager, Yogi Breisner, talking about the withdrawal from the competition by Zara Phillips riding High Kingdom: “Basically he is fine; about an hour before he was starting his warm up for the dressage test he kicked in the stable and split the skin (in his fetlock) so he had a wound which we tended to immediately straight away, but as Zara started to warm up it was quite clear that the horse was not 100% so we made the decision to withdraw him which was very very sad for Zara.”

ZARA PHILLIPS UNVEILS ROLEX GRAND SLAM OF EVENTING TROPHY

The first ever Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing Trophy was officially unveiled today by Zara Phillips at the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event. The magnificent silver trophy standing 60cm was specially commissioned in London and features four stars at the top, with three handles, each representing the three legs of the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing made up of Kentucky, Badminton and Burghley.

THE ROLEX GRAND SLAM OF EVENTING

When Rolex was inspired to link the three foremost eventing competitions in the world into a Grand Slam in 2001, it was immediately apparent that it would require a series of outstanding performances from a remarkable athlete to complete the challenge.

William Fox-Pitt and Bay My Hero
William Fox-Pitt and Bay My Hero

Kentucky and Badminton – the British horse trials on which the modern sport of eventing was founded – run two weeks apart in the spring, and Burghley, in the east of England, is the autumn highlight of the global sport. All three have stunning settings and attract vast crowds over the four days of competition.

To date, only one rider – Rolex Eventing Testimonee Pippa Funnell – has won this most prestigious series. In 2003 the much-medalled mainstay of British teams for many years took the Rolex Kentucky crown on Primmore’s Pride. She progressed to Badminton a week later and won there on Supreme Rock, her double European Champion, and added the Burghley title that autumn on Primmore’s Pride – beating Zara Phillips into second place on her four-star debut at the same time. Pippa Funnell immediately joined the ranks of sporting greats, respected by her peers and the media alike as an exceptional athlete.

Since then, two of the three legs of the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing have been won by four riders: the Australian Andrew Hoy, Britain’s William Fox-Pitt and Oliver Townend, and the New Zealand hero of six Olympic Games and current live Rolex Grand Slam contender, Andrew Nicholson. None of these top-class riders have yet succeeded in triumphing over the series and winning the final element of the Rolex Grand Slam.

ABOUT ROLEX

Leading brand of the Swiss watch industry, Rolex, headquartered in Geneva, enjoys an unrivalled reputation for quality and expertise the world over. Its Oyster watches, all certified as chronometers for their precision, are symbols of excellence, performance and prestige. Pioneer in the development of the wristwatch as early as 1905, the brand is at the origin of numerous major watchmaking innovations, such as the Oyster, the first waterproof wristwatch, launched in 1926, and the Perpetual rotor self-winding mechanism introduced in 1931. Rolex has registered over 400 patents in the course of its history. A truly integrated and independent manufacturing company, Rolex designs, develops and produces in-house all the essential components of its watches, from the casting of the gold alloys to the machining, crafting, assembly and finishing of the movement, case, dial and bracelet. Rolex also actively supports the arts, sports, exploration, the spirit of enterprise, and the environment through a broad palette of sponsoring activities, as well as philanthropic programmes.

Website:
www.rolex.com

Revolution Sports + Entertainment
Merrick Haydon
merrick@revolutionsports.co.uk
+44 77481 868 33

Top Names Jostle for Pole Position at Kentucky

Tim Price (NZL) on Wesko (pictured) is now joint leader with Michael Jung (GER) on La Biosthetique Sam FBW after Dressage at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event (USA), third leg of FEI Classics™ 2014/2015. (Anthony Trollope/FEI).

Lausanne (SUI), 25 April 2015 – A fascinating competition is assured at this weekend’s Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event (USA), third leg of the FEI Classics™ 2014/2015, with three of the biggest names in the sport heading the leaderboard after the Dressage phase.

New Zealander Tim Price, riding Wesko, and Germany’s Michael Jung on the 15-year-old La Biosthetique Sam FBW are tied in first place on a score of 36.3. Last year’s winning combination, a beaming William Fox-Pitt (GBR) on the handsome Cult Hero gelding Bay My Hero, is less than two penalties away in third on 38.5.

Jung is also in fourth place on the 10-year-old mare FisherRocana FST, on which he was second at Luhmühlen CCI4* last year and won world team gold and individual medals.

The pair set the standard on the first day and the German maestro predicted that Sam might find it difficult to beat her excellent mark of 39.3. But the 15-year-old bay gelding presented a delightful picture of lightness and softness to thrill a capacity audience.

“I have very good memories of Kentucky,” said Jung, who is returning here for the first time since he won the world title here on Sam. “It’s a really nice place with good conditions for the horses and the cross-country fences are friendly and clear for the horses.”

Wesko, a white-faced Dutch gelding bred for Jumping on which Price scored his first CCI4* victory, at Luhmühlen (GER) last year, is one of the most elegant horses in the business and the up-and-coming New Zealander one of the most accurate riders; the pair presented an attractive picture scored highly for smart trot work and flying changes.

Colleen Rutledge (USA), a regular competitor at this level on Shiraz, is best of the home riders in fifth place on Covert Rights, a first-timer at this level, just ahead of CCI4* debutant Mackenna Shea (USA) (Landioso) who, at 22, is the youngest of the 75 starters.

“I tried not to think of this as any different from any other show,” said Shea. “This is the biggest atmosphere we’ve been in before but he was really good. He’s a calm and collected horse so I just tried to trust him and do my best.”

Fellow Americans Laine Ashkar (Anthony Patch), 2014 runners-up Lauren Kieffer and Veronica, and Marilyn Little (RF Demeter) are in seventh, eighth and ninth places, separated by just 0.4 of a penalty.

Swedish rider Jennie Jarnstrom had the misfortune to be eliminated when her horse Cape Town repeatedly reared and resisted in the Dressage arena and there was huge disappointment when Zara Phillips (GBR), paying her first visit to Kentucky, had to withdraw minutes before her Dressage test on High Kingdom because the gelding had struck into himself in the stable.

Cross Country Course Designer Derek di Grazia (USA) says he has given the Kentucky track “a new twist”. He adds: “Some of the old favourites will be jumped in a different order and therefore could ride in a different way to before. I hope riders use their brains out there. The big issues will be time management and knowing their horse.”

The first serious question comes at fence 4 on undulating ground, where riders will encounter a big spread followed by five strides to a rail where the ground drops away and then another five strides to a narrow brush fence.

Fence 7 is the first of the three water complexes on the course, with a drop into the water and then a large table on the other side of the pond. The famous Head of the Lake at 13 only involves one passage through water this time, but it features a couple of skinny brushes.

The keyhole combination at fence 16 and a difficult line to the ‘c’ element, a corner, at the Land Rover Hollow (fence 18) will both have riders thinking hard. And there will be no relaxing for riders on the home stretch. There’s an oxer-corner complex at 24 which has a deceptively tight line and a final water at 26 (which was the fifth fence last year) with a huge carved duck.

Trainer and former Olympian Jimmy Wofford, who won at Kentucky in 1981, gives his verdict on the course: “This is not a course you can skip round. If you want to do well at Rolex 2015 you will have to ride forward.”

Follow all the action with live coverage of Cross Country and Jumping on www.feitv.org, live results on www.rk3de.org and interviews on FEI YouTube. Watch Dressage roundup on FEI YouTube: https://youtu.be/PDTD1whdu-4.

*NB: Cross Country will now start 15 minutes earlier than scheduled, at 9.45am Kentucky time.

Use hashtags #FEIClassics and #Eventing.

By Kate Green

Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Media Contact:

Marty Baumann
marty@classic-communications.com
+001 5088782394

At FEI:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 45

USEF Network’s Live Broadcast of Kentucky Reining Cup Sponsored by TheraPlate Revolution

Photo taken at the Equine Spa and Rehabilitation Center at Tom McCutcheon Reining Horses; photo courtesy of Kat Paschal for McCutcheon Media.

Wellington, FL (April 23, 2015) – TheraPlate Revolution is proud to sponsor the 2015 Kentucky Reining Cup’s webcast coverage that will be broadcasted live on USEF Network, presented by SmartPak. The Kentucky Reining Cup has been called the crown-jewel of FEI Reining competition. Held in conjunction with the renowned Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, the prestigious Kentucky Reining Cup offers more than $100,000 in total prize money.

The TheraPlate is the Official Therapy Platform of the United States Equestrian Federation, making TheraPlate Revolution’s sponsorship of this USEF Network coverage a natural extension of their continuing support of equestrian sport. The TheraPlate is very popular among top reiners – including Tom and Mandy McCutcheon and Tim and Colleen McQuay – for to its ability to build muscle, increase circulation, and reduce inflammation.

TheraPlate Revolution loves to show its support of talented equine athletes – from offering the TheraPlate to help horses achieve and maintain ideal fitness to sponsoring events such as USEF Network’s live coverage of the Kentucky Reining Cup. The competition will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, on April 24-25. It will be the fifth time that the world’s leading reiners vie for first place at the annual Kentucky Reining Cup.

TheraPlate therapy platforms are loved by those who use them because of their ability to relieve pain, promote healing, and improve horses’ fitness levels at the same time. According to Chip Kreiling, founder and owner of TheraPlate Revolution, “Theraplate platforms revolutionize the treatment and prevention of injuries using dynamic movement with zero impact.” TheraPlate Revolution offers platforms for equines, humans, dogs, and other animals.

TheraPlate Revolution also showed its support for other riding disciplines by recently sponsoring the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival and the 2015 Adequan Global Dressage Festival. The company presented the TheraPlate Wellness Award during the CDIs at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival to horses that demonstrated excellent fitness.

To watch the live Kentucky Reining Cup broadcast on USEF Network sponsored by TheraPlate on Friday April 24, go to www.usefnetwork.com. For more about the next revolution in equine therapy, visit www.theraplate.com, call (800) 920-3685, or email theraplate@gmail.com.

Contact: Chip Kreiling
TheraPlate Revolution
(800) 920-3685
theraplate@gmail.com
www.theraplate.com

Impressive Field Set to Contest Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event

Lauren Kieffer and Veronica (Ben Radvanyi Photography)

Lexington, Ky. – The crown-jewel of the U.S. eventing calendar, the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover, gets underway this week at the Kentucky Horse Park. Seventy-five horses were presented and accepted today at the first horse inspection. Entries from nine countries will contest America’s only CCI4* event in their quest for the coveted champion title and Rolex watch. In addition to hosting the Rolex/USEF CCI4* Eventing National Championship, this year’s event will also serve as a Selection Trial for U.S. eventing athletes looking towards the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada.

Competition begins tomorrow with the first of two days of dressage. All four days of competition will be live streamed on the USEF Network presented by SmartPak. In addition to the webcast, daily wrap-ups with Sinead Halpin and Hannah Sue Burnett, the order of go, results, and behind the scenes photos and videos can be found on the USEF Network.

This year’s entry list, which reads as a who’s who of international eventing, will feature the defending Rolex/USEF National Champion combination of Lauren Kieffer and Veronica, as well as the defending Rolex Kentucky Champions William Fox-Pitt of Great Britain and Bay My Hero. Kieffer and Veronica, owned by Team Rebecca, are coming off a strong showing at the Red Hills International Horse Trials in March where they won the Advanced division. The pair will be looking to improve on their second place overall finish from 2014.

The U.S. contingent of 46 athletes from all across the country will also include decorated veterans and up-and-coming talent, all seeking to reclaim the Rolex title for the U.S. since it was last won in 2008 by Phillip Dutton. Dutton, who has contested every single running of the CCI4* in Kentucky, brings three horses to the field: Fernhill Cubalawn, owned by Thomas Tierney and Simon Roosevelt; Fernhill Fugitive, owned by Thomas Tierney and Ann Jones; and Mighty Nice owned by Evie Dutton, Caroline Moran, Anne Jones, Kevin Keane, and Michael Bombar.

Currently ranked fifth in the world, Buck Davidson will also have a busy weekend with three entries, led by longtime partner Ballynoe Castle RM owned by Carl and Cassandra Segal. The pair finished third in last year’s event and most recently placed second at The Fork CIC3*. Davidson will also ride Petite Flower owned by Caroline and Sherrie Martin and The Apprentice owned by Sherrie Martin.

Demonstrating the continued success of the USEF eventing pipeline and appearing in their first Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event will be USEF Eventing 25 Developing Program athletes Elinor MacPhail and Lizzie Snow, as well as program alumni Allie Blyskal Sacksen and Mackenna Shea. Additional program alumni set to start are Lauren Kieffer, Jordan Linstedt, Meghan O’Donoghue, and Caitlin Silliman.

Highlighting the foreign entries are newcomers to Rolex Kentucky, Michael Jung and Zara Phillips. Hailing from Germany, Jung will start both of his stellar mounts, La Biosthetique-Sam FBW and fischerRocana FST. Jung and La Biosthetique-Sam FBW earned Individual Gold here when the Kentucky Horse Park played host to the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games and are the defending Olympic Team and Individual Gold medalists. Jung most recently experienced success on the world stage with fischerRocana FST, winning Team Gold and Individual Silver at the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Phillips has entered High Kingdom, the horse on whom she won Team Silver medals for Great Britain at the 2012 Olympic Games and also at the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

From the USEF Communications Department

Jung Returns to Scene of Triumph

World Eventing number one William Fox-Pitt (GBR), who won the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event 2014 on My Bay Hero, is now ready to challenge the field of almost 80 riders on the same ride at this third leg of FEI Classics™ 2014/2015. (StockImageServices.com/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 22 April, 2015 – Michael Jung (GER) is returning to the scene of his first championship victory when he contests the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event (USA) this weekend (23-26 April), third leg of the FEI Classics™ 2014/2015.

In 2010, Jung, the reigning Olympic and European champion, began a record four-year run of individual gold medals when he took the world title at Kentucky on La Biosthetique Sam FBW.

Five years later and firmly established in the world’s eyes as the consummate horseman, Jung will again be thrilling American and global Eventing fans, as he is tackling the CCI4* for the first time with Sam, now a 15-year-old, plus FisherRocana FST, the game 10-year-old on which he won world team gold and individual silver medals last year.

Another former world champion is making an eagerly anticipated Kentucky debut. Zara Phillips (GBR), who won the world title in 2006 at Aachen (GER), is bringing High Kingdom, her Olympic and world team silver medallist, for a first crack at the USA’s premier event.

One rider who knows every inch of the Kentucky Horse Park is Phillips’s team mate, William Fox-Pitt (GBR). The world number one has been victorious here three times, in 2010 (on Cool Mountain), in 2012 (on Parkland Hawk) and in 2014 on Bay My Hero, his ride this year.

The 12-year-old by Cult Hero is a lovely stamp of horse; the gelding was also fourth at Burghley (GBR) last year, a result that helped Fox-Pitt secure his third FEI Classics™ win.

Kentucky is a popular destination for New Zealand riders as well, but the country’s representative this time is a new face, Tim Price, who scored his first CCI4* win last year, at Luhmühlen CCI4* on the Dutch-bred Wesko.

Phillip Dutton (USA), the last American rider to win Kentucky, in 2008 on Connaught, heads a particularly strong home side. He and his compatriot Buck Davidson (USA) have three rides apiece; Dutton’s trio is Mighty Nice, Fernhill Cubalawn and Fernhill Fugitive and Davidson has The Apprentice, Petite Flower and Ballynoe Castle RM.

The 2015 running sees one of the strongest line-up for years – nearly 80 riders representing nine nations – and a thrilling competition should be assured from the moment the first combination, Colleen Rutledge and Shiraz, steps into the Dressage arena on Thursday morning.

Follow all the action with live coverage of Dressage, Cross Country and Jumping on www.feitv.org and live results on www.rk3de.org.

Use hashtags #FEIClassics and #Eventing.

By Kate Green

Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Media Contact:

Marty Baumann
marty@classic-communications.com
+001 5088782394

At FEI:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 45

Saturday Is THE Day for Equestrian Sports Fans!

Don’t miss your opportunity to be a part of one of equestrian sport’s most dynamic days of competition. April 25th (or Super Saturday as it has become known) offers not only the exciting Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Cross-Country day, but also the World Championship Freestyle Reining that same evening. The two events are held together at the Kentucky Horse Park and offer one the most fulfilling days possible for fans of horse sports.

Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, together with the Kentucky Reining Cup, is happy to once again offer tickets for Super Saturday at a discounted rate compared to buying separately. But don’t delay! This offer is only available for another few days.

Create one of the most memorable days for your family or group by enjoying RK3DE Cross-Country by day and the World Championship Freestyle Reining that evening – all at a nice discount when purchased together in the “Super Saturday” package.

Click Here to take advantage of this opportunity while it still lasts!

The Kentucky Reining Cup World Championship Freestyle Reining brings the best riders from all across the globe to compete for World Champion title honors and prize money. It’s a must-see event and a great way to enjoy the western side of Rolex weekend. Plus, there are a handful of celebrity riders trying their hand at Reining.

For more information about the Kentucky Reining Cup, click on: www.KentuckyReining.com.

Equestrian Events Inc.
P.O. Box 12110 | Lexington | KY | 40508

Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Attracts Stellar Field of Competitors

Lexington, USA, 13 April 2015 – The sport of three-day eventing is considered to be the ultimate test of horse and rider. To win, the combination must endeavour to succeed faultless performances in the three disciplines of dressage, cross-country and show jumping. All three elements requiring a unique range of skills; precision, elegance, harmony, bravery, physical and mental fortitude, balance and perfect timing.

The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials and the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials are considered the greatest three-day events in the world. United, they form the sport’s most valuable prize, the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing.

The first of these takes place from 23-26 April, in the heartland of the United States at The Kentucky Horse Park. The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event is the only four-star competition in the continent – the highest level possible.

INTERNATIONAL FIELD OF ENTRIES

This year’s edition has attracted one of the most exciting international fields the event has seen in years. For the first time in her Eventing career, Rolex Eventing Testimonee and 2006 World Champion Zara Phillips will be competing at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. She takes with her High Kingdom, who she won silver medals with at the 2012 Olympic Games and 2014 World Equestrian Games.

The supremely talented British rider will face challenges from many of the globes finest riders. Among them, the phenomenal German Michael Jung, who won individual gold at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky in 2010 and who is the current Olympic title holder.

Britain’s William Fox-Pitt has won the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event trophy three times – in 2010, 2012 and 2014 – and he will return with a top team of horses to defend his title.

All of North America’s best equestrian athletes will be competing at Rolex Kentucky this year. Among them will be the 2008 winner Phillip Dutton, Olympic team member Boyd Martin and Buck Davidson, son of Bruce Davidson, who won the 1978 World Championships at Kentucky – the first major event to be held at the venue.

The European challengers also include Britain’s Nicola Wilson and Francis Whittington, and Germany’s Andreas Dibowski.

HISTORY

Rolex has been closely associated with this exceptional equestrian challenge in the beautiful surroundings of the Kentucky Horse Park since 1981. Its facilities are recognised as the best of any three-day event in the world, and its cross-country course, devised by the United States’ top course-designer Derek Di Grazia, is renowned for testing the courage and stamina of both horse and rider.

Rolex’s support has seen the event develop into one of the most prestigious in the world, with top riders from round the globe now vying to compete there.

THE ROLEX GRAND SLAM OF EVENTING

When Rolex was inspired to link the three foremost eventing competitions in the world into a Grand Slam in 2001, it was immediately apparent that it would require a series of outstanding performances from a remarkable athlete to complete the challenge.

Kentucky and Badminton – the British horse trials on which the modern sport of eventing was founded – run two weeks apart in the spring, and Burghley, in the east of England, is the autumn highlight of the global sport. All three have stunning settings and attract vast crowds over the four days of competition.

To date, only one rider – Rolex Eventing Testimonee Pippa Funnell – has won this most prestigious series. In 2003 the much-medalled mainstay of British teams for many years took the Rolex Kentucky crown on Primmore’s Pride. She progressed to Badminton a week later and won there on Supreme Rock, her double European Champion, and added the Burghley title that autumn on Primmore’s Pride – beating Zara Phillips into second place on her four-star debut at the same time. Pippa Funnell immediately joined the ranks of sporting greats, respected by her peers and the media alike as an exceptional athlete.

Since then, two of the three legs of the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing have been won by four riders: the Australian Andrew Hoy, Britain’s William Fox-Pitt and Oliver Townend, and the New Zealand hero of six Olympic Games and current live Rolex Grand Slam contender, Andrew Nicholson. None of these top-class riders have yet succeeded in triumphing over the series and winning the final element of the Rolex Grand Slam.

PREVIOUS KENTUCKY WINNERS

2014 William Fox-Pitt (GBR), Bay My Hero
2013 Andrew Nicholson (NZL), Quimbo
2012 William Fox-Pitt (GBR), Parklane Hawk
2011 Mary King (GBR), Kings Temptress
2010 William Fox-Pitt (GBR), Cool Mountain
2009 Lucinda Federicks (AUS), Headly Britannia
2008 Phillip Dutton (USA), Connaught
2007 Clayton Fredericks (AUS), on Ben Long Time
2006 Andrew Hoy (AUS), Master Monarch
2005 Kim Severson-Vinoski (USA), Winsome Adante
2004 Kim Severson-Vinoski (USA), Winsome Adante
2003 Pippa Funnell (GBR), Primmore’s Pride
2002 Kim Severson-Vinoski (USA), Winsome Adante
2001 David O’Connor (USA), Giltedge
2000 Blythe Tait (NZL), Welton Envoy
1999 Karen O’Connor (USA), Prince Panache
1998 Nick Larkin (NZL), Red
1997 Karen O’Connor (USA), Worth the Trust
1996 Stephen Bradley (USA), Dr. Dolittle
1995 David O’Connor (USA), Custom Made
1994 Julie Gomena (USA), Treaty
1993 Bruce Davidson (USA), Happy Talk
1992 Stuart Young-Black (USA), Von Perrier
1991 Karen Lende (USA), Mr Maxwell
1990 David O’Connor (USA), Wilton Fair
1989 Bruce Davidson (USA), Doctor Peaches
1988 Bruce Davids (USA), Doctor Peaches
1987 Kerry Millikin (USA), The Pirate

ABOUT ROLEX

Leading brand of the Swiss watch industry, Rolex, headquartered in Geneva, enjoys an unrivalled reputation for quality and expertise the world over. Its Oyster watches, all certified as chronometers for their precision, are symbols of excellence, performance and prestige. Pioneer in the development of the wristwatch as early as 1905, the brand is at the origin of numerous major watchmaking innovations, such as the Oyster, the first waterproof wristwatch, launched in 1926, and the Perpetual rotor self-winding mechanism introduced in 1931. Rolex has registered over 400 patents in the course of its history. A truly integrated and independent manufacturing company, Rolex designs, develops and produces in-house all the essential components of its watches, from the casting of the gold alloys to the machining, crafting, assembly and finishing of the movement, case, dial and bracelet. Rolex also actively supports the arts, sports, exploration, the spirit of enterprise, and the environment through a broad palette of sponsoring activities, as well as philanthropic programmes.

Website:
www.rolex.com

Rolex Press Room:
https://pressroom.rolex.com/en/sports-and-culture/partnership-activities/rolex-and-equestrianism/rolex-and-equestrianism.html

Revolution Sports + Entertainment
Rod Kohler
rod@revolutionsports.co.uk
44 7770 647 662

Don’t Miss These Activities at 2015 RK3DE

Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event starts three weeks from today! Do you have your weekend planned? Here are some of the can’t-miss features of the Best Weekend All Year:

Maker’s Mark Commemorative Bottle Fundraising Auction and Reception
Thurs., April 23, 7 p.m., Kentucky Governor’s Mansion
Horses and Hope will be the featured charity at this exclusive reception, where a small number of Maker’s Mark Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event commemorative bottles will be auctioned. All proceeds from the auction will go to Horses and Hope, the official charity of the 2015 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. Tickets to the fundraiser are $200 per individual or $300 per couple. A $100 voucher, to be used during the bottle auction, will be included with each individual or couple ticket purchased. (Limit of one bottle per ticket.) Tickets will not be available at the door. Order yours here.

Demonstrations and Exhibitions in the Walnut Ring
From Mustangs to ponies and Paso Finos to Friesians, there’s plenty of equestrian fun going on Thurs., Fri., Sat., in the Walnut Ring, located at the head of the Sponsor Village between Lee Cholak Drive and Rolex Way. See the full schedule for specific times.

Kentucky Reining Cup
For the best in reining, be sure to get your tickets to the Kentucky Reining Cup on Friday and Saturday evening. Find Kentucky Reining Cup information and tickets here.

RK-5K
The inaugural RK-5K, The Twilight Race at Rolex Kentucky, starts Fri., April 24, at 6:30. Already 450-plus runners and walkers have signed up. Get details and sign up here.

Saturday and Sunday
Plan to arrive early on Saturday and Sunday, the most popular days of RK3DE. Gates open at 7 a.m.!

Equestrian Events Inc.
P.O. Box 12110 | Lexington | KY | 40508