Rolex Kentucky 2013 Has Begun: 46 Horses Move on to Dressage
All 46 horses presented today at the 16th Rolex Kentucky Kentucky Three-Day Event and USEF CCI4* Championship were accepted by the Ground Jury of Nick Burton (GBR), Christina Klingspor (SWE), Brian Ross (USA), as well as Veterinary Delegate Catherine Kohn, DVM, and will move on to the dressage phase of the competition. Quimbo, ridden by Andrew Nicholson (NZL) was held but passed on reinspection. Here’s To You, ridden by Emily Beshear (USA) was not presented.
Heavy rains saturated the Kentucky Horse Park this morning, and though the downpour subsided by the start of the First Horse Inspection at 3:00 p.m., the temperature had dropped significantly. The horses were feeling fresh, and many seemed ready to charge out of the startbox. Several horses struggled to stand quietly for the Ground Jury, and the crowd of photographers at the end of the jog lane gave others a good excuse to spook. Nevertheless, horses and riders were spectacularly turned out and looked fit and ready for the week.
It’s going to be a very exciting competition at Rolex Kentucky this year. The International field will undoubtedly give the U.S. riders a run for their money. Eyes are on William Fox-Pitt (GBR) for a repeat win, and Andrew Nicholson will look for a victory to put him in contention for the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing and a head-to-head battle for the cash against William at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials next week. The 2011 Rolex winner, Mary King (GBR), has returned with Fernhill Urco, who placed second behind Mary and King’s Temptress two years ago. Seven countries in total are represented this week.
About 20 percent of the field is made up of Rolex first-timers, three of which were featured in the Rolex Preview issue of Eventing USA – Jennie Brannigan (USA) and Cambalda, Emily Renfroe (USA) and Walk the Line, and Caitlin Silliman (USA) and Catch a Star. Several professionals are back with new horses, like Boyd Martin and Trading Aces, and of course, there are the usual suspects, including Buck Davidson and Ballynoe Castle RM, Phillip Dutton with his two rides, and Becky Holder and Can’t Fire Me, amongst others.
The dressage test ride is at 9:00 a.m. Thursday morning. The dressage competition begins at 9:30. See the full entry list and more at www.rk3de.org.
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