Entries are open for the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three Day Event and, while we have to wait to see who will be competing at the first US-based CCI5* of 2024, the FEI Schedule has been confirmed with the list of officials and other information.
Held at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, USA, the Defender Kentucky Three Day Event will run from 25th – 28th April and, with the winner taking home $130,000 in prize money, it is bound to be on the bucket list of many riders from near and far this year, including some ‘new faces’ from New Zealand.
Last year saw the first home win for America in many years, with Californian based Tamie Smith riding Mai Baum the first US winner since Phillip Dutton in 2008 and the first lady rider to win since Kim Severson in 2005. Can a US rider do it again or will the Internationals bag the big prize? We’ll have to wait and see, but we do know who will be overseeing the whole competition and putting together the courses that will no doubt have us all on the edge of our seats.
Ground Jury and Course Designers
After heading the CCI4*-S Ground Jury in 2023, the USA’s Robert Stevenson will be President of the CCI5* Ground Jury this year, along with Xavier Le Sauce (FRA) and Judy Hancock (GBR.) Britain’s Phillip Surl returns as the CCI5* Technical Delegate, with Assistant TD’s Andrew Temkin (USA) and Mary Duenow (USA).
The CCI5* cross country course will be once again designed by Derek Di Grazia, making this his 13th year, having first designed at Kentucky in 2011. Derek, who designed the Tokyo 2020 Olympic course, also designs the CCI5* course at Defender Burghley Horse Trials in September each year, having taken over the role from Captain Mark Phillips in 2021.
Canada’s Jay Hambly will be the Assistant Course Designer and the showjumping course will be designed by Steve Stevens, who has designed the track in the large, all-weather arena at Kentucky Horse Park for the past two years.
Timetable
The first horse inspection for the CCI5*-L will be held on Wednesday 24th April afternoon at 3pm.
Dressage is on Thursday and Friday afternoons for the CCI5* with the CCI4*-S dressage also taking place on both days in the mornings.
Saturday is cross country day for both classes followed by the second horse inspection and showjumping on Sunday.
The total prize money for the CCI5* is $440,000, with the winner taking home $130,000 and prizemoney for the CCI4-S* class has increased this year to $50,000.
Tickets are available from the Defender Kentucky Three Day Event website.
