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NBC-TV TO RE-AIR ROLEX KENTUCKY TELEVISION SPECIAL MAY 24
In a gracious nod to equestrian fans, NBC has announced that it will re-air coverage of the "Rolex Equestrian Championships" in its entirety Saturday, May 24th from 2:00-3:00 p.m. EST. The initial airing of the program had to be shortened when the NHL playoff game that preceded it went into overtime and ran long.
Jon Miller, Executive Vice President of NBC Sports, who has shepherded the“Rolex” program since its first airing in 2004, made the announcement. Equestrian Events, Inc., organizer of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, thanks Mr. Miller and NBC Sports for this thoughtful act.
Carr-Hughes Productions, Inc., Saratoga Springs, NY, produces the television program. The company also produces the 2-hour Rolex Kentucky highlight DVD available for purchase through this website (click on Video/DVD Order on left hand menu).
ROLEX KENTUCKY 2009 - APRIL 23-26
Dates for the 2009 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event are April 23 - 26. Please join us again next year for the 12th USEF CCI**** Championship. As the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games held at our Kentucky Horse Park grow closer, doing well at Rolex Kentucky will be a must. Expect the best in 2009.
IT'S FINALLY A FIRST FOR PHILLP DUTTON
AND THE HIGH-FLYING CONNAUGHT
In just his second year riding for the United States, Phillip Dutton has won his first Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event with a score of 41.7 with the 1993 Irish Sport Horse gelding. Dutton previously rode for the other red, white and blue, Australia, and has taken second at this event five times.
"It feels a lot better to win rather than to come in second," joked Dutton. "I actually have not been worried about the fact that I haven’t won. Everybody else seems to be more concerned about it."
Earning one of only two double-clear rounds, in the Richard Jeffery designed Show Jumping course that included 16 jumping efforts in a time allowed of 88 seconds, made the difference for this year’s champion. "The horse never wants to hit a rail," said Dutton. "All this year I’ve been a little slow on the time in Show Jumping. I galloped to the finish like a little Pony Club kid looking up at the clock to see what time I had."
Becky Holder, who held the coveted first place spot for three straight days earned second place after she and Courageous Comet pulled two rails today giving them a final score of 47.3. "I’m absolutely thrilled with my horse, thrilled with our round, and I think it’s not too bad to come in second to Phillip Dutton," Holder said with a smile. "I knew that going into Show Jumping I could expect a clear round out of Phillip. I had already mentally prepared myself for that pressure, so that was not a surprise at all for me."
In third place with a final score of 57.3 was Missy Ransehousen aboard Critical Decision. Ransehousen commented that her horse usually pulls a few rails so she was pleasantly surprised with pulling just one today. "I must say I am quite thrilled with my horse," she said. "Usually with a crowd he can get very excited…My goal today was just to try to get him flowing through the course the best I could and keeping him as relaxed and feeling confident in himself as he went along. I was very pleased with his performance, and I felt like we really worked together out there today."
Yesterday’s tenth place holder, Stephen Bradley, ended in fourth place overall thanks to his double-clear round. Bradley and Dutton were the only two riders to finish with two horses, and all four finished in the top ten. Forty-three horse-and-rider combinations started this year’s event and only 27 finished today’s competition with lots of rails falling and even more rubs.
When asked about what’s next for she and Comet, Becky gleamed, "I am going to take him home and let him go out in the paddock and get as dirty as he possibly can, and he’s really going to enjoy it."
Heather Johnston and Jeannie Blancq Putney
Georgetown College Equine Scholars Program
Georgetown, KY
Media Advisory Regarding the 2008 Rolex Kentucky CCI****
Laine Ashker's horse Frodo Baggins was humanely euthanized after sustaining serious injuries as a result of a fall on the cross-country course on Saturday, April 27. The entire eventing community is deeply saddened by the loss of this incredibly brave horse.
Laine was also injured in the fall. She was immediately attended to and is receiving the finest medial care available at the University of Kentucky emergency center. Our thoughts and prayers are with her and her entire family.
In a separate incident, Sarah Hansel's horse The Quiet Man sustained a serious shoulder injury as a result of a fall. The Quiet Man was humanely euthanized Sunday morning as a result of the fall. Sarah sustained minor injuries and didn't require hospitalization. The absence of this lovely horse is a tremendous loss to the entire sport of eventing.
Family Statement for Laine Ashker
First and foremost we'd like to thank everyone - Laine's friends, fellow competitors, fans and organizers - for all of the incredible support and well wishes sent our way. Given the sheer magnitude of Laine's fall, we have a great deal to be thankful for. The good news is there was no injury to either the brain or spinal chord. While Laine suffered multiple injuries, including a badly broken jaw, broken ribs and clavicle, the main concern is with her collapsed lungs. She is progressing normally and is currently in reasonably stable condition in the ICU unit at the University of Kentucky Hospital. We appreciate your continued support and heartfelt prayers.
Laine's Family
Equestrian Events, Inc. wishes to extend its deepest sympathies and condolences to the owners of both The Quiet Man and Frodo Baggins. Our thoughts and prayers are with both families and with rider Laine Ashker.
1978 WORLD THREE-DAY EVENT CHAMPIONSHIPS
30TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE DVD NOW AVAILABLE! 
In 1978, over the course of four very hot & humid days, an enthusiastic crowd of over 170,000 converged upon the new Kentucky Horse Park to attend the World Three-Day Event Championships.
Fast forward to 2008, thirty years have passed by…a container of old film is discovered deep in the confines of Equestrian Events, Inc. storage room. Having no idea what it held, Jane Atkinson, Executive Vice President of EEI, decided to have the film converted. Little did she know what a wonderful piece of Eventing history she’d resurrected…As originally narrated by Bruce Davidson, we invite you to go back in time to see where and how it all began.
To order, click on the DVD cover image.
PRESS CREDENTIALS
Press credentials for the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event are issued only to those who are on assignment for a publication, news service, radio or television station or network. Press credentials are not issued to freelance photographers or writers.
Download the Request for Press Credentials form for the 2009 Event and send it to the Rolex Kentucky Press Office at:
Classic Communications
38 Mechanic Street, Suite 101
Foxboro, MA 02035
(508) 698-6810
(508) 698-6811 (fax)
Info@classic-communications.com.
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