Kentucky Preps for Derby with Rolex 3 Day Event

Today will see the 140th running of the Kentucky Derby – the biggest thoroughbred flat track horse race in the world and, for many, the greatest event for the Sport of Kings. But, for American lovers of Equestrian events and Show Jumping, the Rolex 3 Day Event in Lexington is the biggest event of the year.

Sponsored by Rolex with partner Land Rover, the Rolex 3 Day is the highest rated equestrian event in the Western Hemisphere. Land Rover extended an invitation to witness the pageant up close at the Rolex Stadium and its connected cross country course.

In the Equestrian world, the Rolex 3 Day stands shoulder to shoulder with The Olympics as the sport’s top events. Many of the same riders who competed at London 2012 were on hand with their steeds to compete at the Rolex.

The event begins with Dressage, testing both training and control for horse and rider. The second day is the highlight of the event, sending the competitors across the expansive cross country course and over multiple jumps over hedges, through water and by riding challenges sponsored by Rolex, Land Rover and others.

The jumps along the cross country course are called Questions by the riders and fans because they’re challenges set before horse and rider. How the horse “answers” those challenges determines the ranking and value of the horse.

During the cross country day, most of the horses — the finest equestrian performers in the world — make their way through the course smoothly. However, occasionally, a horse will refuse to enter a water jump or (in the worse cases) throw its rider. In those cases, fans in attendance must pay attention and keep their heads.

The crowds at the Rolex line the cross country course with only simple rope fences to separate them from horse and rider. When a horse bucks its rider, it can keep running on or off the course. After all, that’s why the horse is there — to run. Without its partner to guide it, the horse can carry on through the crowds, searching for the route it’s meant to run.

In such a case, the crowd needs to stay alert and out of the way until uniformed race stewards on horseback bring the horse under safe control.

On the final day of competition, the show jumping shifts back to Rolex Stadium where riders and horses take on a compact course of challenges. At this point, those in contention for the Rolex championship need a perfectly clean round of jumps. If a horse nicks a barricade to the ground, it’s points off and a tumble down the standings.

On this day, 2012 Rolex champion William Fox-Pitt rode his very British name and the handsome Bay My Hero to the title. Fox-Pitt came away with $80,000 and, of course, a Rolex watch.

While you’re in an equine mood this Kentucky Derby Saturday, you can see more images from the 2014 Rolex 3 Day Event in the gallery below:

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