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Jul 23, 2018
Ocala Jockey Club International 3-Day Event Wins Prestigious Florida Sports Foundation Award
The Ocala Jockey Club is excited to announce that the 2017 Ocala Jockey Club International 3-Day Event was honored with the “Small Market Event of the Year” award by the Florida Sports Foundation. The award was presented to the Ocala Jockey Club at the Marion County Board of County Commissioners’ July 17 meeting.
“We are excited to continue welcoming the athletes and their teams to the Horse Capital of the WorldTM for the Ocala Jockey Club International 3-Day Event,” said Marion County Board of County Commissioners Chairman Kathy Bryant. “Hosting high-quality athletic events such as this one is a great economic driver, and also a wonderful opportunity to introduce our community to visitors from around the world who might be experiencing Marion County for the first time.”
The Florida Sports Foundation Small Market Event of the Year is accepted on July 17, 2018 by Ocala Jockey Club President, Pavla Nygaard, and Ocala Jockey Club Sponsorship Director, Cindy Oatman. Photo courtesy of the Marion County Board of County Commissioners.
The Florida Sports Foundation, the state’s leading sports promotion and development organization, created this award as one of six awarded annually to recognize Florida’s communities and sports commissions for their outstanding efforts in the state’s sports tourism.
The 2017 Ocala Jockey Club International 3-Day Event was the second annual three-day eventing FEI-sanctioned competition at the horse farm community of the Ocala Jockey Club, held from Nov. 16 to 19, 2017. This three-day eventing competition is an equestrian triathlon, with each horse and rider combination competing in dressage, show jumping, and cross-country running over natural terrain and prepared obstacles that mimic large-scale natural challenges such as ditches, drops, and fallen logs.
The excellent footing, viewing opportunities, and stunning spectator-friendly rolling hill terrain have propelled the Ocala Jockey Club International 3-Day Event to quickly establish itself as a popular destination for top-level riders with four of the five 2018 U.S. Eventing World Equestrian Team members having ridden in one or both of the first two editions of this event. It has also already become a key event for the Ocala community, with it having brought $1 million of economic impact to Marion County in 2017. In recognition of its sports tourism value, the event has been generously supported with a grant by the Marion County Visitors & Convention Bureau (MCVCB).
The 2018 Ocala Jockey Club International 3-Day Event will take place Nov. 15 to 18, 2018. The CIC3* course is again designed by Mike Etherington-Smith, former head of British Eventing, and the course designer for the Sydney and Beijing Olympic Games.
The OJC facility, with its rolling hills and showcase old-growth Spanish-moss-laden oak trees, is a crown jewel in the horse country of Ocala, Florida. About 200 acres of the 950-acre Ocala Jockey Club property serve as a Thoroughbred training farm and to stand stallions, and the facility also includes townhouses and an iconic clubhouse, which serves as a unique venue for weddings, meetings, and other special events. For more information on the Ocala Jockey Club, visit www.ocalajc.com. For more information on the Ocala Jockey Club International 3-Day Event, visit www.ojc3de.com.
Dec 22, 2024
USEA Foundation
Top Tips for Applying for a USEA Foundation Grant
Did you know that the USEA Foundation awards over 150 grants each year to deserving individuals who are involved in the sport of eventing? With grants that assist riders with accomplishing their competition goals, grants geared toward licensed officials, grants that are specific to continuing education for coaches, grants that assist competitions with obtaining frangible technology, and so much more, there really is a grant opportunity available to almost anyone!
Dec 21, 2024
Education
3 Ways to Help Eventing Thrive in 2025
With the start of the New Year just days away, now is the time to consider how your actions can have a positive impact on the sport of eventing in 2025. Each and every member of the eventing community has an important role to play in ensuring the sport continues to grow and thrive. From fostering educational opportunities to supporting grassroots initiatives and participating at all levels of the sport, there are so many ways to get involved.
Dec 20, 2024
Sponsor
“Happy Horse Equals Happy Judge”: Ask An Expert with Dressage Judge Peter Gray, Brought to You by Ride iQ
Ride iQ’s popular “Ask An Expert” series features professional advice and tips from all areas of the horse industry. One of the most-downloaded episodes is an expert session with Peter Gray, an accomplished dressage judge and Olympic eventer. He has recently judged at events like the five-star at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, and he served on the ground jury at the 2022 FEI World Eventing Championships in Pratoni, Italy. His background as a competitor in the Olympic Games riding for Bermuda and as a coach and selector for the Canadian eventing team adds depth to his understanding of the sport.
Dec 19, 2024
Volunteers
The VIP Volunteer: Cathy Hale Has A Thirst for Adventure and a Love for Volunteering
With a total of 382 volunteer hours in 2024, Catherine “Cathy” Hale not only topped the USEA Area III VIP Volunteer leaderboard, but she also ranked fourth out of all eventing volunteers across the country. Hale (The Villages, Florida) has worked as a travel agent for over 30 years, a career that suits her love of travel nicely. At the time of being interviewed for this article, Hale was passing the equator on a cruise to Tahiti, New Zealand, and Australia.
