Can Michael Jung do it again?
The growing trend to increase prize money at major events will make many top riders very happy
In 2016 the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials announced that this year’s prize money would increase to £100,000 for the winner and now the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event has also increased its prize money for the third year in a row.
The riders at Rolex Kentucky will be vying for their share of US$400,000 in prize money, to be distributed among the top 20 finishers and the winner will receive a cheque for US$130,000, putting it on a par (depending on exchange rates!) with Badminton which is offering an overall prize pot of nearly £360,000 with prize money also going down to 20th place
Any rider who manages to achieve both wins will be doing very nicely, thank you! That feat would also line them up nicely for the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing with $350,000 on offer again for any rider who wins the Rolex Kentucky, Mitsubishi Motors Badminton and Land Rover Burghley Four Star Events in succession. The Rolex Grand Slam was won in 2016 by Michael Jung, the first rider to achieve this feat since Pippa Funnell in 2003
The Dubarry of Ireland Nations Team Challenge will be featured again at Rolex Kentucky this year and offers more chances for the riders to scoop up some additional cash. $20,000 will be awarded to the ‘nation’ with the fewest penalties after adding together the final scores of the three highest-placed individuals from that team.
