Rolex Kentucky CCI****
(April 24 - 27, 2008)

Three competitors have won the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event three times. Of these three, two will be competing at the Kentucky Horse Park this year.

Karen O'Connor has won in 1991 with Mr. Maxwell; in 1997 on Worth The Trust; and in 1999 riding Prince Panache. This year Karen brings Theodore O'Connor and Hugh Knows. (Karen and Hugh Knows are pictured jumping the Log in the Water at Southern Pines earlier this year.)

Kim Severson, who has won three times on Winsome Adante (who, incidentally, is being retired at this year's renewal) in 2002, 2004 and 2005, will be riding Tipperary Liadhnan in 2008. Kim and Tipperary Liadhnan are pictured jumping The Turtle in the last water at The Fork, earlier this month.)

The third three time winner is Bruce Davidson, who won in 1988 and in 1989 on Doctor Peaches and again in 1993 riding Happy Talk, will not be competing this year.

One other previous winner, Stephen Bradley who won in 1996 on Dr. Doolittle, will run two horses in this year's renewal - Brandenburg's Joshua and From.

Notable by his absence will be Great Britain's William Fox-Pitt. Fox-Pitt is eligible to win a second leg on the Rolex Challenge - a $350,000 prize given to any rider who wins the Burghley, Rolex Kentucky and Badminton CCI****'s consecutavely, as he is the reigning Burghley champion from last year's competition. William has entered three horses at Badminton - Ballincoola, Macchiato, and Tamarillo. It seems that no British riders will be given Lottery Funding to come to Kentucky this year as it will be so expensive to send the British team to Hong Kong for the Olympic Games. The Lottery Funding will be used for that purpose. (William is pictured at the right as shown in Clare Lomas' Eventers Exposed 2008 Calendar.)

One Brit has chosen to make the trip on her own hook. Polly Stockton has entered Charles Owen Tangleman. Tangleman is also entered for Badminton. Polly and Tangleman finished thirteenth at Rolex in 2007 with one stop on Cross Country. No results are available for Tangleman for this year. (Polly is pictured bllow at the left as shown in Clare Lomas' Eventers Exposed 2008 Calendar.)

At press time forty-seven horses were entered for Rolex Kentucky 2008. Among others who have entered more than one horse are: Laine Ashker - Frodo Baggins and Mazetto; Phillip Dutton - Connaught, Tru Luck and Woodburn: Boyd Martin (AUS) neville Bardos and Ying Yang Yo.

It is not likely that any of us who may attend either Rolex Kentucky or Badminton will see Polly Stockton or William Fox- Pitt as they are shown in this report and on the Eventers Exposed 2008 Calendar.

Editor's Note: Eventers Exposed Calendar is available at www.sr-comms.co.uk or at www.get-clare- walking.co.uk

It is sold for the benefit of Clare Lomas who was injured in a fall at Osberton Horse Trials in May of 2007 and is paralysed. It also contains pictures of Oliver Townend, Piggy French, Polly JacksonHarry Meade and others.