It was a victory for persistence and a victory for the West Coast, but most of all, a victory for America, as Tamie Smith on Sunday became the first U.S. rider to win the 5-star Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event since 2008.
Everything was on the line as Tamie and Mai Baum entered the Rolex Stadium, the crowd of 23,576 adding to the tension as they riveted on the rider who would be either a heroine or a disappointment. She wasn’t showing the nerves she felt, but there was no middle ground for the Californian and her 17-year-old equine partner, who looked as determined as his rider. They had to be: Either the duo succeeded or horse and rider would fail most publicly.
Tom McEwen of Great Britain had just completed a perfect trip with the remarkable JL Dublin, ending on a score of 27.8 penalties for his weekend. Tamie had 24.2 penalties, with nothing added to her dressage score, when she trotted into the arena. Four faults for a knockdown would give the crown (it is coronation week) to Tom.
Tom McEwen and JL Dublin.( Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
A study in concentration, Tamie was total determination as she handled the daunting task. Mai Baum, better known as Lexus, cleared fence after fence, tapping one, and then two, with his hooves as spectators murmured uneasily. Finally Tamie was up and over the final obstacle, the Defender oxer, smiling even before Lexus touched the ground and flashed through the finish line.
Tamie Smith smiling as she knows she has a perfect trip. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
The crowd erupted, knowing how long the U.S. national championship had waited for one of its own to claim the prize. Tamie let her mount go in an exuberant gallop, flying around the ring in triumph, a study in joy and accomplishment.
“I feel like everybody carried me over that horse show jump course,” she said, as she thought back on her round over the Steve Stephens-designed course.
Asked for comment after she had gotten dozens of heartfelt hugs, a lease on a Land Rover Defender vehicle, and $123,000 in prize money, Tamie tried to gather her thoughts.
“I’m pretty numb,” she said.
“It’s almost like an out-of-body experience. I’m honored and elated and so excited, I’m speechless, obviously.”
She added, “This sport, you take a beating. The resilient ones just keep coming back for more. And you have that one day it pays off, and today it did.”
Added Tamie, “I’m so happy an American won. I’m so tired of the Europeans coming over and taking our national championship.”
I asked what’s next for Mai Baum, better known as Lexus. The 17-year-old German sporthorse gelding had some time out of the top level after an injury from the end of 2019 to the spring of 2021, but he came back strong with a ninth-place finish at Badminton and a contribution to the silver medal U.S. team at the 2022 world championships.
“I’d like to have him for Paris (the Olympics) next year,” mused Tamie.
“He’s healthy and he’s strong and he’ll tell me what he wants to do next. He doesn’t really owe me anything after something like this. He’ll tell me when he’s kind of ready to throw in the towel. He definitely doesn’t show any signs of that.”
In fact, she said, “today he jumped out of his skin.” Next for him is a rest, of course, and possibly some show jumping this fall (she trains with Scott Keach in that discipline.)
Tamie called Lexus “an unbelievable creature.” She took over the ride at the urging of her working student, Alex Ahearn, who wanted to go to college and handed the reins to Tamie. Reluctant to ride a working student’s horse because she wouldn’t want it to be a pressure situation, Tamie finally agreed and the partnership thrived.
Tom, who had to rush off and catch a plane back to England so he could ride two horses at the Badminton 5-star this week, was happy to briefly recap his Kentucky experience.
“I’m delighted with Dublin. Dubs has been unreal all week and I couldn’t be happier,” he said, noting their partnership is relatively new, having only begun late last season.
He called the Kentucky fixture “a true championship test” adding, “it’s brilliant for eventing in America to have Tamie win, an American winner.”
Third place went to Liz Halliday-Sharp on the U.S.-bred Miks Master C in his first 5-star, coming in on 28.5 penalties.
“He is the most amazing horse. I hope he will be my Olympic horse. He’s such a kind, generous horse and he gave everything,” she enthused.
Liz Halliday-Sharp celebrates her clean show jumping round on Miks Master C. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
Having U.S. riders first and third was an achievement. Tamie gave credit to efforts of former eventing high performance director Erik Duvander, noting “he put blood, sweat and tears into U.S. eventing.”
Referring the weekend’s success, she said, “I think it’s the culmination of his dedication and hard work.”
He no longer works for the U.S. Equestrian Federation, which did not renew his contract, but she noted even so, “I think what you’re seeing is the fruits of his labor and ours as well.”
Tamie is the ninth 5-star winner who has been trained by Erik. She and Liz both continue to work with him, as do several other top eventers, including Boyd Martin and Ariel Grald.
World Champion Yasmin Ingham finished 18th with Banzai Du Loir following a fault-free show jumping trip, but it was a comedown after she won the dressage. The British rider had a run-out on cross-country at the C-element of the coffin complex, and then accumulated 20 time faults on top of that.
“The main thing today was to come out and do our best,” the British rider said with a gracious smile after completing the show jumping.
“If you’re not winning, you’re learning, and that’s the quote I’m living by this weekend. I’ve watched the video back many times already, analyzing where I went wrong.
“My approach to the coffin was too far right. It ended up we jumped the ditch way too far to the right. I didn’t give him a chance to get to the C element. I’m kicking myself more than anything. I know that he’s still an amazing horse and we can come out of this stronger, so that’s the main thing. It was a great course to ride around the rest.”
Zachary Brandt, 24th on Direct Advance, received the inaugural James C. Wofford “On the Rise” memorial trophy as the best-finishing Young Rider in the competition. The award is a memorial to the rider, trainer, author, and commentator, who died in February. He was known as a spotter of potential eventing talent.
For stories from Kentucky that ran over the last week, go to the On the Rail section. Others are available if you click on the Previous Columns icon on the masthead.
Click here for the final 5-star results. Click on this link for the 4-star results.