It has definitely been a busy week at the Kentucky Horse Park - even busier than usual this time of year. Not only has the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event (RK3DE) come to town, but there was a special ceremony held before the jog on Wednesday.
The long-awaited new outdoor stadium was officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, preceded by lots of speeches and "thank yous." Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear was on-hand, along with his wife, Jane, who happens to be a longtime equestrian. John Nicholson, Executive Director of the Kentucky Horse Park, served as the host speaker and shared the story of the people who worked for the realization of the $25 million new stadium.
It really is impressive. It has over 7,000 permanent seats, plus it is adaptable to seat as many as 30,000 for huge shows and events. Plus, and super importantly, it has state-of-the-art footing which is the foundation for any world class facility. A German company named OTTO Sport und Reitzplatz GmbH installed it in the main arena, as well as the nearby warm-up area.
No one was forgotten in the program, and the large crowd that gathered then had an opportunity to tour the facility and see up close just how nice the arena turned out to be. From the hospitality area to the main stands to the VIP areas, it's a class act all the way and will bring a new sense of style and stature to the events that it serves.
To the Big Event....
Speaking of that, the first equestrian event it served was today's dressage phase of the RK3DE. The dressage phase of eventing isn't the most electrifying, high-energy thing, but when the dressage test is done brilliantly, it can be inspiring. I've always been a fan of the "fast and furious," so the cross-country and show jumping phases literally make my heart pound.
At the least, this dressage phase was officially the first competition to be held in the new arena, and makes this year's Rolex the first of the World Equestrian Games test events. Pretty cool.
The morning saw fans come from every corner of the country, all in pilgrimage. The diehard eventing fans want to catch as much of the tests as possible and they make it a point to be there when the very first rider enters the ring. The crowd develops across the morning and peaks with the return of action after lunch.
Speaking of lunch - that brings me to another of my favorite topics...food.
Yes, "atmosphere" is a big part of the RK3DE experience. And since I've been coming to this event for literally decades, the food court and vendors have continued in their development and growth. In fact, some people come to this event and never even see a horse unless it is formed in jewelry, painted on a canvas or screen-printed on a t-shirt. Nonetheless, it seems like everyone at one moment of the day or other, makes their way through the food court.
As far as the food goes, it is possible to get a healthy alternative to the deep-fried candy bars and nacho cheese drowned chips and fries. Last year was the first year I remember seeing what I call the salad stand. Simple in its appearance, it can produce a line of eager eaters a mile long and in a split second. Last year, I had no sooner got in line than I had 15 people walk up behind me to form a queue. I guess I got there as it just opened or the moon had aligned with Mars or something. Anyway, the salad was humungous (you had a choice of lettuces and greens), and it was loaded with your choice of accompaniments. Mine, of course, was drowned in bleu cheese dressing and croutons. I never said I was meaning to eat healthfully; I was just craving the toppings and didn't want to eat a hamburger or corndog. Price tag: $9. "Good" don't come cheap at the RK3DE.
The other treat I look forward to is the sweet fruit tea that is sold out of the crab cake stand. My allergy to shellfish prevents me from spending a fortune on the small, but delicious-looking sandwiches, so that is a good thing. But, I cannot resist their iced tea, and iced tea is pretty much the house wine of the South. I have been known to purchase one and revisit them for refills to the point of ridiculousness. I am a Southern boy, and we do love our iced tea.
Of course, you can find a plethora of other things to nosh on. Deep-fried Oreos sound like a sugar nightmare, but I have to admit I bought some last year with two friends. We each were so curious to try them, so we pitched in and shared an order. I have to admit that it was amazing. But, I can't imagine eating more than one. They are the stuff that fat kids dream of (and I would know as I was a sugar-gulping Pugsley). Of course, there are funnel cakes and waffle ice cream sandwiches and the more usual event-type fast foods.
Wow...I have a toothache from all that.
Back to the real action....
Before today's dressage began, two horses found themselves spun from the veterinary jog that took place yesterday. Sad as it was, Leith's mount, ESB Irish Doctrine, was found to be lame in his left hind. According to Ashley, the horse has never been lame in his left hind, and he looked really good earlier in the day. Imagine the frustration...but you have to do what is best for the horse. There is no other way to do it. Craig Thompson's mount, Orion, seemed to be suffering some problems with his right front and was withdrawn, too.
The eventers took to the arena beginning at 10 a.m. with Bruce Davidson, Jr., starting the competitors off. It was a beautiful cool morning, and as the day went on, it only got better. It seems like we may actually get through this year's competition without the sight of rain. That would be a very good thing.
The numbers for the first half of eventers putting down dressage scores were respectable, overall. This year's roster of riders is quite special as it contains quite a few foreign athletes that otherwise wouldn't come to the States except for Rolex.
And it was interesting that the foreign riders staked their claim by edging out their American counterparts and taking the top three positions after Day 1.
Dutchman Tim Lips and Concrex Oncarlos led with a score of 42.0, putting in a solid performance. The Brits brought up the second- and third-place spots (Oliver Townend aboard Carousel Quest and William Fox-Pitt and Navigator, respectively).
The lead U.S. rider was California's pairing of Jolie Sexson and Killian O'Connor who just so happen to be making the RK3DE debut this year. They showed their stuff and were able to earn a very respectable 47.3 score for their efforts.
The dressage phase of the RK3DE will conclude on Friday when the remaining half of the riders ride their test and post their scores. With temperatures firmly in the mid-80s and the forecast calling for gusting winds, it will be interesting to see who sits atop the leader board heading into Saturday's heavily anticipated cross-country competition.