The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, part of the HSBC FEI Classics™ Series, has been named one of the Top 10 Festivals and Events for Spring 2010 by the Kentucky Tourism Council.
The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, a perennial winner of this prestigious award, is set to be held at the Kentucky Horse Park, April 22-25. It was named as one of the Top 10 Events for Spring because this premiere event is the only four-star three-day event in the Americas and because it brings international attention to Lexington and the Bluegrass State each spring. While attracting crowds in excess of 100,000, the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event also features an International Sponsor Village and Trade Fair with more than 150 booths and various exciting demonstrations.
Enhancing this year's schedule will be the official Kentucky Cup Dressage and Jumping Test Events for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG). The Games will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park, September 25-October 10, marking the first time that equestrian sport's biggest event is being held outside Europe.
"With the incorporation of the Kentucky Cup Dressage and Jumping Test Events for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, this year's Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event will feature all three of the Olympic equestrian disciplines. This will make this year's Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event experience an even greater opportunity for equestrian sports fans from around the world, and it is sure to attract an even greater number of visitors to the Bluegrass State," said Event Director Jane Atkinson.
The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event features the world's best horses and riders vying for their share of $250,000 in prize money and a chance at the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing. The winning owner is awarded $80,000 and the winning rider receives a classic Rolex timepiece.
In addition to the excitement surrounding this year's Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event and WEG events will be the attempt by Oliver Townend of Great Britain to become only the second rider in history to win the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing, awarded to any rider who wins the Rolex Kentucky, Mitsubishi Motors Badminton and Land Rover Burghley Four-Star Events in succession. Townend has won the first two legs and at Rolex Kentucky in April, he will seek to join Pippa Funnell of Great Britain, who did it in 2003, as the only riders to win the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing.
For more information, or to purchase tickets to the 2010 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, please visit the Rolex Kentucky website at www.rk3de.org. You may order your tickets online, or complete the ticket order form and return via mail or fax (859-254-5116) to Equestrian Events, Inc. Phone orders: (859) 254-8123. To receive a printed ticket brochure, send name and mailing address to EEI at P.O. Box 12110, Lexington, KY 40580-2110.