Rolex Kentucky: Fox-Pitt (GBR), Springer (USA), Paget (NZR), Martin (USA), O’Connor (USA)
Sunday, April 29 2012
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes – Ka-CHANG! Yep, Derek di Grazia created a cross-country test that demanded precision and riders minding their Px & Qs every step of the way.
- Published in Lauren Gallops, Z-Blogs
ROLEX KENTUCKY – AM Cross-Country CH-CH-CH-CHANGES!!!
Saturday, April 28 2012
Wowie zowie – what a morning – we’re still reeling from the changes in the leaderboard. Even before the XC began, there were three withdrawals: Buck Davidson pulled out with Absolute Liberty, who would have been first out of the start box this morning, & his Pan Titanium, Jolie Wentworth & Killian O’Connor. Then, only two completed the cross-country out of the first seven horses to start this morning! Two retired on course: Andrew Nicholson (NZL) took out a frangible pin at 9abc – Bridgestone Park Question (coffin combination), picking up 21 penalties, and James Alliston (GBR) and Jumbo’s Jake after they accumulated 20 penalties at 9abc – and 17abcde, the Sunken Road. Three were eliminated – Karen O’Connor had a splash crash at the HSBC Water Park (5abcd) – no injuries to horse or rider, just dampened spirits, but Karen has another chance with Mr. Medicott this afternoon. Becky Holder and Courageous Comet got to #22abc, the HSBC FEI Classic Series Normandy Bank, but parted company and Becky bought a cheap piece of real estate that cost dearly in terms of her goals with her wonderful ex-racehorse
- Published in Lauren Gallops, Z-Blogs
Rolex Kentucky: Where The Action Is!
Saturday, April 28 2012
Sara Kozumplik and Manolo Blahnik, exuding class at Manny's first ever four-star in spite of boogie moments during their waltz... © Lauren R Giannini Okay, so we’re only one person and we can’t be everywhere & do everything, but on Friday, we made a point of getting to the dressage arena to watch our friend Sara Kozumplik and Manolo Blahnik who was ready and eager for the cross-country, but a day early. Their score put them well down on the leaderboard standings, but ya wanna know something? That test might have been a disappointment to Sara and Brian Murphy and Lara, who’s grooming her first Rolex – understandable after all the years of preparation to get here, but we felt very proud of Manny for not leaping out of the ring and thundering off to the XC. It’s his first four-star and he’s a bit of a sensitive, complex creature under the best of circumstances and the horse gods know what an electric atmosphere Rolex tends to be
- Published in Lauren Gallops, Z-Blogs
Allison Springer & Arthur In First Place After Dressage, Stalked by Fox-Pitt & Parklane Hawk
Friday, April 27 2012
Allison Springer has been in the catbird seat after dressage before, but not on the last day. This is her fifth Rolex with Arthur, and she entered the arena at 11:30 a.m. with the brilliant but somewhat quirky gelding who gave her pretty much everything she asked. The judges rewarded the duo’s test with a score of 39.8 penalty points, thereby ousting Parklane Hawk and William Fox-Pitt (GBR) on 41.3pp from the first place berth they had earned a couple of hours earlier
- Published in Lauren Gallops, Z-Blogs
Rolex Kentucky – New Vocations & Retired Racehorse Training Project Fundraiser & Dubarry Babies
Friday, April 27 2012
Dawn comes early, especially during Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bridgeston. Last night, however, we feasted very well at the Alltech Press Dinner hosted by Dr. Pearse Lyons at his Alltech Brewery, home of Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale.
- Published in Lauren Gallops, Z-Blogs
Rolex KY 3-Day Event: Early Leaders After 1st Day of Dressage
Friday, April 27 2012
Rolex Kentucky 3-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone: okay, we’re not surprised at all by the early leaders after day one of dressage – after all, the “brand” for Rolex is that crown of excellence!!! In first place, after being next to last to go on Thursday’s dressage schedule, is Remington XXV and Boyd Martin. We’re very pleased to rely on the press release produced by chief press officer Marty Bauman and his Classic Communications staff, considering the lateness of the hour and encroaching exhaustion… Boyd Martin & Remington XXV - all three judges put this duo into first place after day one of dressage. © Beth Harpham/equidigital.com All three judges placed Boyd and Remington XXV first – on a score of 45.3 penalty points. Boyd, 32, (West Grove, PA) said that Remington XXV, 16, was one of the first horses he competed when he moved from his native Australia seven years ago. The Hanoverian gelding, owned by Henley House Stables, had only foxhunted before Martin began working with him. “He’s a good old horse,” said Boyd, grinning. “He’s taken me all around the world now, and it was wonderful to ride a test on a horse who knows what he’s doing.” Boyd rode on his first U.S
- Published in Lauren Gallops, Z-Blogs
ROLEX 3-Day: Dubarry Style Awards, Cross-Country Course Walks, Things To Do, ETC
Thursday, April 26 2012
Welcome to Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone – and the first day of dressage. We had just enough time to get to the stadium where we took a few pix of Sinead Halpin and “Tate” – Manoir de Carneville, who performed the test ride. Last year they finished third at Rolex, winning the USET Foundation Pinnacle Cup as the highest-placed US rider/horse combination as well as Best Conditioned Horse.
- Published in Lauren Gallops, Z-Blogs
Rolex Kentucky – 57 Horses Will Start
Thursday, April 26 2012
The first veterinary inspection took place at Kentucky Horse Park at 3 p.m. today under sunny, balmy skies: 57 of the 58 horses presented were passed by the jury composed of Anne-Mette Binder (Denmark), Michel Assaray (France) and Nick Burton (Great Britain). The jury did not accept Llewellyn, ridden by Brittany Kart (USA), they also held two other horses and accepted them when they re-presented. It was a pretty parade of ponies, all things considered and the riders went all out, fashion-wise. We can’t hope to prognosticate in the same league as Jimmy Wofford, and we will admit with unabashed honesty that often sentiment and friendship drives our partisanship toward certain horses and riders. We certainly have a healthy respect for anyone who gets to the four-star level: it takes guts, determination and over the top horse craziness, but we digress. Karen O'Connor & Veronica, owned by Team Rebecca LLC © Lauren R Giannini Karen O’C looks fit and ready for Rolex
- Published in Lauren Gallops, Z-Blogs
UVA polo dominates the USPA Intercollegiate National Tournaments
Wednesday, April 25 2012
UVA Men (left to right): Felipe Viana, Lou Lopez, Todd Thurston, Eduardo Lopez, Mauricio Lopez, CB Scherer, LJ Lopez UVA polo dominated the USPA Intercollegiate National Tournaments this past weekend in Ithaca, N.Y., taking home titles in both the men’s and women’s events. The Cavalier squads faced strong competition throughout the tournaments, which featured top college programs and some of the best young players in the United States. The UVA men’s team defeated Cornell in the semifinal and went on to win the championship with a 23-17 victory against Westmont in the final. UVA Women (left to right): Lou Lopez, Isabella Wolf, Kylie Sheehan, Julia Steiner, Vicky Friedrichs, LJ Lopez In the women’s tournament, UVA took down a solid Texas A&M team before meeting rival Cornell in the final and winning in a close 17-13 contest The National Intercollegiate Championship is part of the USPA’s Intercollegiate/Interscholastic polo program, which is committed to growing the sport of polo with players and fans. Several players from the winning UVA teams are part of the premier Team USPA development program as well, which is also highly involved in training and teaching young polo players. With the help of programs like these, polo is experiencing a resurgence in the U.S.as depicted in the recent in-depth feature on “60 Minutes” surrounding the sport. All Star Honorees Men Women Felipe Viana – UVA Julia Steiner – UVA CB Scherer – UVA Kailey Eldredge – Cornell Patrick Uretz –Westmont Kylie Sheehan – UVA Wiley Uretz -Westmont Isabella Wolf – UVA
- Published in What's Happenin', Z-Blogs
ROLEX – Jump Start To London Olympics for US Riders
Wednesday, April 25 2012
A lot rides on Kentucky Rolex Three-Day Event, sponsored by Bridgestone, April 25-29 at the Kentucky Horse Park. Not only is it the premier four-star this side of the big puddle (Atlantic Ocean), it is THE PLACE where the Selectors for the US 3-Day Olympic Team will be watching the US contenders through high-powered microscopes. Then, too, there is the British invasion to roil the Rolex “waters” as William Fox-Pitt (GBR), 2010 winner of Rolex with Cool Mountain, is slated to ride Parklane Hawk: they won 2011 Burghley, which was Fox-Pitt’s sixth triumph in the testing September four-star.
- Published in Lauren Gallops, Z-Blogs