Lexington, KY—April 27, 2023—Will Faudree of North Carolina (USA) has taken home the first prize of the weekend, after being awarded the Dubarry of Ireland Best Dressed Award following the first horse inspection at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ (LRK3DE).
Before the horses go down the centerline in the LRK3DE’s dressage phase, the riders are eligible for the first prizes of the weekend — the Dubarry of Ireland Best Dressed Awards. This year, riders in both the CCI5*-L and Cosequin®Lexington CCI4*-S are eligible, with the 5* being awarded after the first jog on Wednesday and the 4* awarded after the second inspection (first for that division) on Sunday.
Faudree’s white pants paired with a navy-and-white-piped jacket caught the judges’ eyes as the 5* competitors presented their horses. He took home $1,000 in Dubarry merchandise as his prize.
Also taking place at last night’s competitors’ party was the awarding of a VIP Sponsor’s Table, wort
Will Faudree receiving his award from Danny Hulse of Dubarry © Michelle Dunn
Also taking place at last night’s competitors’ party was the awarding of a VIP Sponsor’s Table, worth $15,000, to a competitor. Great Britain’s Zara Tindall took home the prize.
Mike Cooper, Executive Director of EEI, and Laura Holoubek, EEI President, awarding Zara Tindall (GBR) with a VIP Sponsor’s Table © Michelle Dunn
Competition kicked off with dressage Thursday morning featuring the CCI4*-S in the Rolex Stadium, while the CCI5*-L gets going after lunch.
Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™
The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event is a thrilling multi-day competition featuring Olympic-level riders and horses in what can best be described as an equestrian triathlon. Horse and rider pairs compete in three phases of the competition – Dressage, Cross-Country and Show Jumping – for $375,000 in prize money to those competing at the CCI5*-L level. LRK3DE is the largest and longest-running Five Star event in the Americas, and as the United States’ premier event, it also serves as the Land Rover/USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Championship presented by MARS Equestrian for the U.S. athletes. It also includes the Dubarry Nations Team Challenge. Rolex is the Official Timepiece and Event Partner.
Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S
Introduced in 2021, the Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S runs concurrently with the CCI5*-L competition, featuring the three phases of eventing – dressage, cross country and show jumping. The Cosequin® Lexington 4*-S offers $25,000 prize money. Tickets for viewing the Cosequin® Lexington 4*-S are included when purchasing the LRK3DE tickets.
Kentucky CSI3* Invitational Grand Prix presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute
The $226,000 Kentucky CSI3* Invitational Grand Prix presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute will take place on Saturday afternoon, April 29, after the cross-country portion of the LRK3DE. As part of the competition, there will also be a $38,700 Welcome Speed Cup Ranking Class on Friday in the Rolex Stadium after the day’s LRK3DE dressage competition. No stadium seat ticket is required for Friday’s Ranking Class. For more Grand Prix information, please visit https://kentuckythreedayevent.com/grand-prix/.
Livestream
All competitions held as part of the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ – the CCI5*, Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S, and Kentucky CSI3* Invitational Grand Prix presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute – can be watched live on USEF Network powered by ClipMyHorse.TV, available through the event website at www.kentuckythreedayevent.com.
Further information about the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™, the Cosequin® Lexington 4*-S, and the Kentucky CSI3* Invitational Grand Prix presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute is available at www.kentuckythreedayevent.com.
About Equestrian Events, Inc.
Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI) is a non-profit charitable Kentucky corporation that was established initially to produce the 1978 World Three-Day Event Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park. Following the success of those championships, EEI established an annual event that evolved into the world-renowned Kentucky Three-Day Event, which draws more than 80,000 spectators to the Kentucky Horse Park each year. EEI added the Kentucky CSI3* Invitational Grand Prix in 2018, the Lexington CCI4*-S in 2021, and also produces other events. EEI supports several local and equine charities and has donated more than $725,000 to various charities since 2011. For more information, please visit www.eq-events.com.
Cover photo: Will Faudree (USA) and Mama’s Magic Way at Wednesday’s horse inspection © Michelle Dunn
