Equine competitors from around the world meet this weekend for the 37th time at the Kentucky Horse Park. A record number of horses are registered for a record amount of prize money at the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event.
75 horses are registered for the international competition in categories including dressage, show jumping, and cross country. Rolex Kentucky President Steward Perry says the overall prize money has increased by $50,000. "This event is like the NCAA Final Four or the Super Bowl for this sport, for the sport of eventing," said Perry. "There's only four in the world and one of them is right here in Lexington, Kentucky."
Since the inception, the Kentucky Horse Park has been home to the Rolex. The park also hosted the World Equestrian Games in 2010. Perry says a return visit is possible. "The gentleman who runs the horse park, Jamie Link, also was the gentleman who ran WEG," Perry said. "So I think the experience level is here to show the international community, that the Kentucky Horse Park, the Commonwealth of Kentucky can handle it."
The next stop for the World Equestrian Games will be Bromont- Montreal in 2018. Close to 100,000 people are expected in central Kentucky this weekend for the Rolex Three Day Event.?