40/ SEPTEMBER 2017 THE RIDER Kentucky Three-Day Event to Host


CSI3*$225,000 Invitational Grand Prix Added to the “Best Weekend All Year”


LEXINGTON, TUCKY—August


KEN- 03,


2017—The 2018 Kentucky Three-Day Event will host a new CSI3* show jumping competition as part of its schedule of equestrian


presenting


“EEI is committed to international


international competition.


Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI), producer of the Kentucky Three-Day Event, in partner- ship with the Split Rock Jumping Tour will host the new $225,000 Invitational Grand Prix. The Kentucky Three-


Day Event, America’s only Four Star Three-Day Event, returns to the Kentucky Horse Park, April 26-29, 2018. The new $225,000 Grand Prix will be held in the Horse Park’s Rolex Stadium on Saturday afternoon following the com- pletion of the CCI4*’s Cross- Country phase. “We are thrilled to add a


major FEI show jumping Grand Prix to our internation-


Maxime Livio Qalao des Mers


ally-recognized event,” said Stewart Perry, President of EEI. “For almost


four


decades, equestrian sports fans have traveled from all over to see Eventing’s best riders and horses and now they will have a chance to see


show jumping’s best at the same time. I think it’s safe to say that the ‘Best Weekend All Year’ just got even bet- ter!”


In addition to the


$225,000 Invitational Grand Prix, which will feature 30 in-


ternational riders, there will be a $35,000 1.45m FEI rank- ing class on Friday afternoon following the completion of the CCI’s dressage competi- tion. Guilherme Jorge, show jumping course designer at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, will be course de- signer for the CSI. “The Kentucky Three-


Day Event is well established as one of the world’s premier equestrian events,” said Derek Braun, Founder and CEO of the Split Rock Jump- ing Tour. “We are so excited to


join forces with EEI and do what we can to put on a show jumping event of the same magnitude. This will be a huge boost for the sport of showjumping in America to capitalize on the incredible at- mosphere that the Kentucky three-day event has estab- lished!”


equestrian competition at the highest level,” said EEI Exec- utive Director Lee Carter. “So we jumped at the chance to be able to present world-class show jumping to the many thousands of fans already at our three-day event. Derek Braun helped bring this about and we’re looking forward to working with him on what will no doubt very quickly be- come one of show jumping’s premier events.” An internationally-rec-


ognized show jumping series now in its third year, the Split Rock Jumping Tour attracts an impressive line-up of Olympic veterans and interna- tional riders.Split Rock events give competitors, sponsors and spectators an “Unparal- leled Show Jumping Experi- ence” with world-class venues, top prize money, ex- travagant awards and numer- ous first-class amenities for riders, horses, owners, spon- sors and spectators. “The success of our


events is a strong endorse- ment of the way we present the sport of show jumping,” said Braun. “We are excited to partner with EEI to present show jumping as a truly enter- taining sporting event in a way that has previously been missing in the U.S.!”


Equestrian Events, Inc.


(EEI) is a non-profit charita- ble Kentucky corporation that was established initially to produce the 1978 World Three-Day Event Champi- onships at


the Kentucky


Horse Park. Following the success of those champi- onships, EEI established an annual event that evolved into the world-renowned Ken- tucky Three-Day Event which draws more than 80,000 spec- tators to the Kentucky Horse Park each year. The Kentucky Three-


Day Event is one of the world’s most prestigious equestrian competitions and features the world’s best horses and riders vying for their share of $400,000 in prize money as well as a shot at the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing, which is awarded to any rider who wins the Kentucky, Mit- subishi Motors Badminton and Land Rover Burghley Four Star Events in succes- sion.


Further information


about Split Rock Jumping Tour is available on line at the Tour’s official website at www.splitrockjumpingtour.co m. Further information on the Kentucky Three-Day Event is available at www.kentuck- ythreedayevent.com.


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