The Kentucky Horse Park is again hosting thousands of equestrian competitors and fans. The 36th Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event runs through Sunday. Event Spokesman Marty Bauman says the focus on dressage, cross country, and stadium jumping is even more keen this spring. “And this year being an Olympic year we have added importance because this event will help determine which horses and riders will ride on the U.S. team at the Olympic Games at Rio this summer.”
Bauman says German rider Michael Young is back to defend his Rolex Kentucky title from last year. He says Young is also the defending Olympic gold medalist from 20-12.
First labeled the World Championship in the mid 1970’s, the competition has always been held at the Kentucky Horse Park. Bauman says the park can hopefully serve as home to the annual event for another three decades. “We have a very happy home here. People travel in from all over the country and other countries as we said,” noted Bauman. “When we had the World Equestrian Games here in 2010, it really established the Kentucky Horse Park as the number one equestrian venue in this country and probably the top one in the world.”
Dressage competition goes through Friday with the five mile cross country contest Saturday and stadium jumping on Sunday. ?
