The Dutta Corp. Fair Hill International October 12-15, 2017 • Fair Hill Natural Resource Management Area • Elkton


by Katherine O. Rizzo


With everyone in Maryland, and all over the country really, talking about the pos- sibility of a new CCI4* at Fair Hill


in the near future, the excite- ment seems contagious and the staff at Fair Hill International are building on that excitement with an even bigger and better event this year. T e 2017 Dutta Corp Fair Hill International unveils expanded hospitality ar- eas, great entertainment and, of course, world class international competition at the CCI3* and CCI2* level, as well as the annual Young Event Horse East Coast Championships.


The Competition


In addition to hosting an international com- petition, FHI is also the location for the U.S. Equestrian’s two-star and three-star national championships, and the Young Event Horse East Coast championships, as well as a host of other awards. T is year, FHI is off ering more prize money, for a total of $50,000. T is is an increase of $35,000 over previous years. International course designer Derek di Gra- zia returns this year as the two- and three-star


Dressage for the YEH competitors and CCIs will start T ursday morn- ing. CCI dressage continues on Friday while YEH competitions have their


Fair Hill’s Four Star Future


T is past July, Maryland equestrians and outdoor sports enthusiasts alike jumped for joy when the U.S. Equestrian Federation announced that FHI had been selected as the U.S. location for a future CCI4* event. “All parties involved are very excited and proud to be from Maryland,” said FHI executive director Carla Geiersbach. “You know Snoopy’s happy dance from the Peanuts cartoons? T at was me when we got the news!” Geiersbach went on to say that FHI’s current sponsors are just as excited and that conversations with more perspective sponsors have already begun. “T ere is a lot of interest to be part of the FHI family,” said Geiersbach. At this point, the fi nal decision is up to the FEI. T e USEF


Could another Marylander join Frederick’s Marilyn Little as a FHI CCI3* winner this year?!


Course designer Derek di Grazia has been building some new questions along the CCI2* and CCI3* tracks.


cross-country course designer. T is year’s course follows the same general path as 2016, but di Grazia has tweaked the course with diff erent fences and new questions. “I think the course will test the riders’ ability to come back to a connected gallop early to pick a route through a question and then gallop on again,” said Ann Haller, FHI’s new competition manager. Haller is no stranger to FHI having been the press sec- retary for several years. She offi cially joined the FHI team this spring. “T e more time I spend here at Fair Hill, the more I realize how extraor- dinary this facility is. It is an amazing resource for all kinds of outdoor enthusiasts.” T e general competition schedule remains


the same, with the fi rst horse inspection for the CCIs happening on Wednesday afternoon. www.equiery.com | 800-244-9580


jumping phase at the Sawmill Field. Saturday will be full of CCI cross- country action, and Sunday wraps up the CCIs with the fi nal horse inspec- tion in the morning, followed by show jumping and awards. Judy Bradwell from the UK will be joining Mark Weissbecker and Faith Fessenden as YEH judges this year. As of press time, entries were still coming into the FHI show offi ce but it already looks like the best of the best are returning to FHI. T e usual suspects such as US Olympians Phil- lip Dutton and Boyd Mar- tin will be competing as will Marylanders Colleen Rutledge and Savannah Fulton. Also entered from Maryland so far are Sydney Solomon, Tayler Stewart and Sabrina Morris. FHI show secretary Mary Coldren suspects that the fi nal CCI entries will be similar to 2016 but has


stated that YEH entries are up!


Spectator Splendor For the seasoned eventing spectator or the newbie, FHI has something for everyone! And for 2017, the crew has expanded the variety of hospitality options spreading them throughout the Fair Hill grounds. T e VIP Tent remains at the top of the hill above the main arena with ca- tered meals and covered seating. New this year is the Fair Hill Club, also located on the top of the hill above the main arena. T is new area will be covered with seating and food for


continued...


proposal goes before the FEI Eventing Committee at the end of September but any proposal will not be voted on until the FEI annual convention in November. “It is a big deal to add to the international calendar. It takes a lot of time to go through the offi cial process,” Geiersbach explained. In the meantime, the support from the community has been incredible and improvements to the racetrack are on schedule to begin this fall, according to FHI competition manager Ann Haller. “So many of the groups that use Fair Hill all wanted these improvements to happen. It seems that our bid for a four star was the catalyst needed to get it all going,” she said. For more background on FHI’s bid for a four-star, see equiery.com and subscribe to our news feed for updates!


A Love Aff air with Fair Hill For over fi fty years, Pennsylvania resident Sam Slater has had a love aff air with Fair Hill. Decades of steeple- chase races at Fair Hill, decades of race horses too. Sam’s wife Lornie Forbes competed in her fi rst three- day when she was 14 years old (1969) at Fair Hill. His sister Joy was the fi rst woman to win in sanctioned race at Fair Hill (1976). He fi lm/videoed Fair Hill for de- cades, and was the television liaison for the series of Breeders Cup Races held on site in 1986. Over the last 40 years, he has served on the boards of


Fair Hill Equestrian Events, Fair Hill International, Fair Hill Training Center, and the Cecil County Breeders Fair. T e family ties run deep. “I’m the only person in my family


to not have had success with a horse at Fair Hill,” jokes Sam. But with a life so intertwined with the legacy of Wil- liam du Pont, it was no surprise when Sam took the lead on establishing a charitable foundation to raise money for much needed improvements to the track, grandstands and stabling. Although Sam’s ties are closest with racing and eventing, he helped to ensure that the board of the Fair Hill Foundation represented the full depth and breadth of Maryland’s equestrian community. Happily, the launching of the Fair Hill Foundation coincided with the State’s bid to be a 4-star event. A public-private partnership was immediately cemented, and the funding was found for the state’s fi rst feasibility and development studies. Of course, more money will need to be raised for the projects to follow, but Sam is confi dent that the Foundation will succeed in raising the necessary funds.


OCTOBER 2017 | THE EQUIERY | 23


FHI image


906020-161016


Katherine O. Rizzo


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