US rider beats pressure to lead Kentucky dressage; Zara Tindall in the mix for Britain
Clark Montgomery holds the top spot at the US four-star after the first phase, but Britain's Zara Tindall has given herself a chance of a good result
Kentucky Three-Day Event
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Boyd Martin and On Cue on the cross-country at Kentucky Three-Day Event 2021.
Horse trials have been held at the Kentucky Horse Park since 1976 and the venue became the first US host of the eventing World Championships in 1978.
Individual world champion Bruce Davidson retained his world title riding Might Tango, while Canada were the winners of the team gold medal on that occasion. Since then Kentucky has frequently been used as the selection trial for the US eventing team for major championships.
In 1998 Rolex Kentucky became the only CCI4* event held outside Europe (all the world’s four-stars were upgraded to five-star when the FEI changed the classification of eventing levels in 2019).
The Kentucky Horse Park also hosted the World Equestrian Games (WEG) – encompassing the World Championships for eight equestrian disciplines – in 2010. Britain won the team gold on that occasion, with Michael Jung taking his first senior championship individual gold on La Biosthetique-Sam FBW.
After 18 years in the role, Mike Etherington-Smith handed over cross-country course-designer duties to Derek di Grazia ahead of the 2011 running of Kentucky and Derek is still the course-designer now.
Long-time title sponsor Rolex stepped down in 2017, and the title sponsorship of the event was taken up by Land Rover ahead of the 2018 running. The name of the event was changed to Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Mars Equestrian, for 2024.
The 2020 running of Kentucky Three-Day Event was cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic and the following February it was announced that the 2021 five-star was cancelled too. However, a grassroots fundraising effort brought in more than $550,000 (approx £400,000) in less than a week, which persuaded organisers to change their minds and go ahead with the five-star, which was won by Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class.
Michael Jung achieved his fourth Kentucky win when he landed the title in 2022 on FischerChipmunk FRH. In 2023, Tamie Smith scored a huge victory for the home side when she piloted Mai Baum to become the event’s first US winner since Phillip Dutton won in 2008.
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Michael Jung withdraws top horse from Rolex Kentucky
A small injury means the European gold medal-winning horse will not travel to the US four-star
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Zara Tindall heads to Rolex Kentucky: find out when she will ride
The former world champion is the only British rider flying to the US four-star this year
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Zara Tindall enters top horse for Rolex Kentucky
The British rider and High Kingdom are expected to fly to the US four-star at the end of next month
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Mark Todd: 'Michael Jung was at his best — a normal rider would struggle to get FischerRocana FST round a three-star' *H&H VIP*
Horse & Hound's eventing columnist reports back from the Rolex Kentucky four-star ahead of Badminton
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Watch video of Michael Jung in all three phases at Rolex Kentucky
See why the German is in the running for the Rolex Grand Slam with a full replay of his performance last week
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Michael Jung wins Kentucky to set up Rolex Grand Slam challenge at Badminton
The German star will ride for the $350,000 bonus at Badminton this week
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Michael Jung widens his Rolex Kentucky lead after cross-country
The German superstar put in the fastest round over a tough course in difficult conditions
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Michael Jung leads Rolex Kentucky after dressage
The German star is on track for a Rolex Grand Slam challenge, while Mark Todd lies equal sixth
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H&H eventing editor’s blog: Michael Jung for the Rolex Grand Slam
Pippa Roome predicts the winner of the four-star events in Kentucky and Badminton and wants to know what you think
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How many times has William Fox-Pitt won Rolex Kentucky? Test your knowledge
With this year's Rolex Kentucky just around the corner (28 April - 1 May) we've put together this fun quiz to test your knowledge of the event
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Oliver Townend withdraws from Kentucky
Just one British horse will now cross the Atlantic to compete in the US CCI4* this year
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Oliver Townend heads British quartet at Kentucky
Two British horses will fly to the USA for the spring four-star, with two US-based Brits also competing.
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Pippa Roome’s eventing blog: Badminton entries and the lowdown on Olympic selection dates
H&H’s eventing editor makes some predictions about Badminton’s field and pinpoints what you need to know about nations’ published selection dates for Rio
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Mary King retires former Kentucky winner Kings Temptress
The British star shares her memories of her homebred and her plans for the mare’s future with H&H
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Mark Phillips: High Kingdom needed general anaesthetic to treat Kentucky injury [H&H VIP]
Our eventing columnist was mortified to learn that his daughter, Zara Phillips, had been unable to compete in Kentucky and reflects on the qualification requirements for four-stars
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New Zealand event horse put down after Rolex Kentucky
Emily Cammock’s 15-year-old gelding Dambala has been put down after sustaining an injury during the cross-country at Rolex Kentucky Horse Trials
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Michael Jung wins Rolex Kentucky; William Fox-Pitt keeps fourth [VIDEO]
Michael Jung showjumped clear today on FischerRocana FST to take the honours at Rolex Kentucky, while William Fox-Pitt and Nicola Wilson both finished in the top 10
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British drama at final trot-up at Rolex Kentucky
One British horse was withdrawn before the final horse inspection at Rolex Kentucky, while two others were sent to the holding box
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Tim Price leads Rolex Kentucky after cross-country; William Fox-Pitt fourth [VIDEOS]
With conditions deteriorating through the day, Tim Price went clear in the time to hold top spot overnight on Wesko, while Britain's riders had mixed fortunes
