The 2022 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event is off and running. Forty-five horses were accepted after the first horse inspection. Doug Payne’s Quantum Leap was asked to jog twice but not held, while Booli Selmayr (Millfield Lancado) and Alex MacLeod (Newmarket Jack) were both held, but accepted upon re-presentation. There was also some discussion after Allie Knowles and Morswood jogged, but the horse was accepted afterward. (The cover image here was taken from a collage of images on Eventing Nation. Read their coverage of the jog).
Dressage starts tomorrow. The 4* horses will start at 8 a.m. and 5* dressage starts at 1 p.m. If you’re in North America, you’ll be able to watch Kentucky in its entirety via USEF Network. The stream will be provided free if you’re watching live, with code LRK3DE21, and $12.95 to watch both live and on demand if you sign up for a USEF Network subscription at 50% off using code LRK3DE22.
Spectators are welcome again this year, after Covid protocols last year restricted access to competitors.
Competitor Run Down
- Competitors from six countries: the U.S., Canada, Great Britain, New Zealand, Germany and Ireland.
- 30 riders are women; 20 are men although a woman hasn’t won the event since 2011 when Mary King won with Kings Temptress
- Three previous Kentucky winners are in the field: Phillip Dutton, Pippa Funnell, and Michael Jung.
- U.S. riders make up 67% of the five-star field this year
- Riders who range from 59 (Phillip Dutton) to 25 (Jasmine Ingham)
- Five riders are 5* first timers
- 8 riders have 2 horses
- 1 rider has 3 horses
The Horses
- 50 horses were originally entered (at the jog we were down to 45)
- 8 full thoroughbreds (all of whom had first careers on the track)
- 9 half thoroughbreds
- 6 mares and 44 geldings
Even the non-Thoroughbred horses in the field typically have more than 50% of thoroughbred “blood” in their pedigrees.
I can’t wait to watch this year, although again I’ll be watching on my computer. Some day I’d like to be there in person! What about you?