by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 9, 2026
It wasn’t a shocker when Kent Farrington headed to the top of the leaderboard — and stayed there — in the opening leg of Thursday’s FEI World Cup Show Jumping Final in Fort Worth, Texas.
Ranked number two in the world (number one, Scott Brash of Great Britain isn’t competing) Kent was clocked in 62.03 seconds over the one-round speed course with Toulayna, a 12-year-old Zangerheide mare he describes as versatile, reliable and naturally fast.
Kent enjoys his triumph.
“I’m pretty confident on this horse to do what I want to do,” the winner said, noting he wasn’t looking at what the 14 riders before him had done, or worrying about what the 19 yet to come after him would do.
Germany’s Daniel Deusser, a former World Cup champion, was just a stride or so off the pace in 62.21 seconds with Otello de Guldenboom, a 12-year-old Belgian warmblood stallion.
“My horse has a big stride. He’s not the fastest horse,” Daniel said, noting his approach involved seeking a smooth round over the route designed by Anderson Lima.
Daniel Deusser and Otello de Guldenboom.
Steve Guerdat of Switzerland, seeking to become the first person to win four Cup finals, was right behind in 62.49 seconds on Albfuehren’s Iashin Sitte, to stand third. He was hoping to have a top five finish, so third is a good spot. But as he noted, there are “still a lot of things to do,” observing that there are two strong riders ahead of him “and a lot of strong ones behind.”
After the class it was selfie time for Daniel Deusser, Kent Farrington and Steve Guerdat.
Ironically, Kent actually didn’t have the fastest round in real time. That belonged to fellow U.S. rider Lillie Keenan with the aptly named Kick On, clocked in 60.78 seconds as she started out with her foot on the gas pedal and never let up.
However, a rail down at 7A, the first fence of the second double, added a 3-second penalty to her time under the formula for the class, putting her fourth.
She was a late addition to the line-up when her mentor, McLain Ward, withdrew, still suffering the after-effects of a bad fall he took when a horse refused with him last month. He is on hand to coach Lillie.
Overall, it was a strong showing for team USA. Jacob Pope was fifth on Highway FBH in 63.89 seconds, while Aaron Vale, in the unenviable position of being first to go, stands sixth with a clean performance on Carissimo 25 (64.32 seconds). Lillie was the only one of the top eight to have a knockdown.
“I don’t remember when we had four in the top six on the first day,” said a delighted U.S. coach, Robert Ridland.
He commended Aaron for sticking to his plan as the first rider in the class.
“It didn’t surprise me. He knew his plan and it probably wasn’t going to change if he went first or thirtieth. When everybody sees the start being positive, it helps everybody.”
He knows the key to success in the final standings means, “Don’t lay it all on the table on the first day. If you want to be in the game. Ideally, you want to be in the top10 and go from there. And that’s what happened.”
Kent will switch mounts for Friday’s class to Greya, the mare on whom he won the $1 million Rolex US Open grand prix last month and the Winter Equestrian Festival.
Click here for results
Riders’ positions in the order of go were determined by an unusual draw during a Wednesday party at Sundance Square (sponsor of the Cup show jumping final) in the heart of downtown Ft. Worth.
Derek Braun, the founder of the Split Rock tour that is presenting the finals, picked out hollow balls from fish bowls. Each contained a piece of paper with the name of a rider, who proceeded to come to the stage and select a cowboy boot (the evening was sponsored by Tony Lama boots) from a lineup of varied styles. The boots each had a number on the sole and that is how the riders learned where they would ride in the line-up.
Many of the riders, male and female, sported brand new cowboy hats that some styled to their own taste. Martin Fuchs, for instance, accessorized his with a jaunty feather. Katie Dinan wore a dress with a horse pattern topped off with a black hat. Kent Farrington went the opposite way; no hat, a white T-shirt and a jacket with jeans.
Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs shows Derek Braun of Split Rock the number he got at the draw party. (Photo © 2026 by Nancy Jaffer)
If you’re in the area and want to attend the show –the second round of jumping is Friday night, the dressage freestyle is Saturday night and the jumping finale Sunday afternoon — single-session tickets are available starting at $35. There are special pricing and package opportunities available for groups of nine or more. To purchase, contact Sydney at GroupSales@DickiesArena.com. Full ticket information is available online at https://www.fortworth2026.com/tickets, For more information, click here.
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 8, 2026
I’ve been to all 11 FEI World Cup show jumping finals held in the U.S. since 1980, and look forward to adding number 12 this week in Fort Worth, Texas. And I also attended the first FEI World Cup Dressage Finals staged Stateside in 1995, when it was in Los Angeles (which will be the scene of the Olympics in two years.)
This website will be covering competition every day in both the dressage and show jumping Cup finals, which begin on Thursday.
Fort Worth, the eleventh-largest city in the country, will make a special mark with its own style on those attending the Longines FEI Show Jumping World Cup and Zen Elite FEI Dressage World Cup April 8-12. From the stockyards and the twice-daily Longhorn cattle drives, to the famous honky tonk, Billy Bob’s, it’s easy to be impressed. And that’s without even mentioning all the down-home barbeque you can eat.
The Texas debut of the Cups will offer a new look for competitors and spectators while imbuing the occasion with the spirit of the true west. It will be a special treat for those coming from overseas. Bet they’ll buy lots of cowboy boots.
My anticipation, however, is not just because it’s a unique location. It’s always great competition, and a chance for fans in the U.S. to see their international favorites in person without leaving the country. On Wednesday, both the dressage riders and show jumpers had a chance to get in the arena so their horses could get a look-see when there isn’t a crowd.
Spectators arrive on Thursday, and the home side will have more to cheer for with another American added to the lineup for the dressage finals, bringing the total number of U.S. competitors in that championship to three.
Ben Ebeling and Bellena, who did not qualify on points for a slot in the competition, are replacing a drop-out and will be joining Christian Simonson, the top-ranked U.S. dressage rider, twelfth in the world with Indian Rock, and Kevin Kohmann with Dünensee.
Christian Simonson and Indian Rock getting familiar with the arena at the World Cup Wednesday.
The other North American representative, Canadian Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu, won’t be coming due to a mishap involving her horse, Jaccardo.
“Unfortunately, Jaccardo got cast in his stall earlier this week and isn’t quite comfortable enough to perform at his best, so we’ve made the decision to withdraw from the World Cup Final.
“While it’s disappointing to miss such a special event, his health and long term well-being always come first,” Brittany said. She would have been the first Canadian in 13 years to have competed in the Cup final.
Carina Cassøe Kruth of Denmark also won’t be coming with Heiline’s Danciera because of an issue with travel documentation.
Key riders who chose not to aim for the dressage final include world number one Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour of Denmark; number two, Justin Verboomen of Belgium, Germany’s Isabell Werth, number three and the defending champion, Lottie Fry of Great Britain. Charlotte Dujardin, also of Great Britain, dropped out after getting a spot but did not give a reason.
With the world championships in both dressage and show jumping set for August in Germany, that is a priority for riders who want to save their horses and not run the risk of crossing the Atlantic while focusing on another show before the biggest competition of the year.
Show jumping’s indoor championship always has been an international high-point in the season. The far-flung venues that hosted the competition in the years following its 1979 inception in Sweden have been located in Asia and the Middle East, as well as Europe and the U.S.
The line-up from abroad for the jumping includes European Champion Richie Vogel of Germany, world number three; Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat, the 2012 Olympic individual gold medalist, and his countryman Martin Fuchs, a former Cup winner, as well as Germany’s Daniel Deusser, another former Cup champion.
It isn’t called the World Cup for nothing–competitors come from a wide range of countries, such as Turkey, the home Necmi Eren riding PSS Levilensky.
The USA’s McLain Ward, who took the title in 2014, 2017 and 2022, told me last year that the 2026 Cup is a priority for him. But after a fall last month that forced him to sit out the Rolex US Open in Wellington, he won’t be competing. His place has been taken by his protege, Lillie Keenan, with Kick On.
In addition to the usual countries fielding riders, the Cup has an eclectic mix of nations not as frequently seen in show jumping. They include Uzbekistan, Georgia (the country, not the state) and Turkey.
No U.S. city has been named as a possible site for the Cup going forward, so the country’s hosting reputation hangs on Fort Worth for the foreseeable future.
In addition to Richie, the show jumpers in the top 10 who are in Fort Worth are world number two Kent Farrington and Laura Kraut, number 10, both of the USA. Other U.S. riders besides those two and Lillie are Aaron Vale; Katie Dinan, the top-placed American in the 2025 Cup, and Kaitlin Campbell, another regular on the U.S. team.
Fresh off his $1 million grand prix win, Kent Farrington brought Toulayna (seen here during the ring familiarization) and Greya to try winning his first World Cup finals.
The younger generation on the U.S. side will be represented by Mimi Gochman, Skylar Wireman and Jacob Pope.
Single-session tickets are available starting at $35, but there are special pricing and package opportunities available for groups of nine or more. To purchase, contact Sydney at GroupSales@DickiesArena.com. Full ticket information is available online at https://www.fortworth2026.com/tickets, For more information, click here.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 29, 2026
This time the numbers were right.
Greya, the highest-ranked horse in the field of the $1 million Rolex U.S. Equestrian Open, demonstrated on the ground why she was rated number one overall on paper as she topped a five-horse jump-off with her usual flair.
Paired with her astute rider Kent Farrington, who is devoted to the celebrated grey mare he proudly calls “My favorite horse,” Greya (Colestus X Contender) gave her audience of 10,000 in Wellington, Fla., something to cheer about during the finale of the Winter Equestrian Festival.
Kent and Freya on their way to victory.
Five horses emerged for the jump-off from a field of 41 over a 14-obstacle course laid out by Guillherme Jorge, who has designed the WEF series-ending grand prix for 12 years.
Greya was put at the top of the list before the class in EquiRating’s evaluation of the equine talent, with an ELO of 780. It’s a score that takes into account a horse’s long-term consistency, how competitively it is performing and the quality of opponents it is beating.
Only two in the tiebreaker were fault-free while making the most of a couple of long gallops on the route that offered a chance to show off their speed.
Great Britain’s Ben Maher, the 2020 Olympics individual gold medalist, was in the difficult position of being first to go and gave it his all with Enjeu de Grisien.
Ben Maher and Enjeu de Grisien
His deftly executed effort in 43.72 seconds was a great comeback from Thursday’s qualifier, when he hit the ground after Dalla Vegas Batilly twice refused the airy U.S. Open jump.
Discussing his strategy, he explained, “It was about putting enough pressure on, leaving the jumps up and forcing them (the other riders) into mistakes, which I did. All but one. Ken’s just a pain in the ass. He’s always there, and he’s always fast.”
Jordan Coyle and Chaccolino had a rail, so when Kent went next on Greya, he was focusing on Ben’s performance.
I had to look twice to see whether Greya had sprouted wings as she flew over the fences under Kent’s astute guidance with an equine/human mind meld. Their clocking of 42.99 seconds was impressive, though Kent knew his lead wasn’t infallible.
“I took enough risk to put peer pressure on…but I didn’t take all the risk,” he recounted of his strategy to earn the $300,000 winner’s share of the purse.
He was aware that someone who dared “a crazy round” might edge ahead of him.
“So I knew it was possible to be beat, but it was going to take a lot of doing,” he said.
Toasting the class: Guilherme Jorge, Richie Vogel, Kent Farrington, Ben Maher and Wellington International CEO Michael Stone.
Darragh Kenny of Ireland, whose Eddy Blue was ranked just below Greya with an ELO of 774, had the front rail at the last of eight fences, the Rolex oxer.
European Champion Richie Vogel was the last with a chance to upset the USA’s leader, and he took advantage of it on Gangster Montdesir, moving faster than Kent had. But at the last fence, the front rail went down and his quicker round in 42.87 seconds was only good enough for third with the add-on of 4 penalties.
“That wasn’t a great ride to the last fence,” Richie admitted, musing that in hindsight he should have done one less stride to the Rolex oxer.
He’s only been riding Gangster for seven months, so it was still quite an accomplishment to come in third.
I have been curious about the horse’s odd name, so I asked Richie what was behind it.
He said the horse came from the breeder with that name. He is shy around the barn, but when he gets in the ring, it’s a whole different assertive personality, as we saw in his performance in the Open.
On the podium: Kent Farrington, Ben Maher and Richie Vogel with USEF President Tom O’Mara and the U.S. Open trophy.
Kent, who has a stable just down the road from the showgrounds, was mobbed by kids (mostly girls) in the post-competition autograph session in the arena. Being a resident of the area has its popularity perks.
Kent greets his fans.
“It’s always great to win at home,” said Kent, noting Wellington is an equestrian community.
They get a great local crowd that comes out and cheers for all of us. but particularly the American riders. I hadn’t won a grand prix yet this season so it was a great way to finish my season this year,” he commented.
Of his mare, he said “she’s really an exceptional horse as you see and as those stats say. She can do everything, she’s fast, she’s careful, she’s scopey, she’s rideable. An incredible horse.”
He called her “an outlier athlete.”
Kent and Greya take their victory gallop.
It was the first finale win for an American rider in seven years. The last two years, the class was won by 2024 Olympic individual gold medalist Christian Kukuk of Germany on Checker 47, but they didn’t finish the first round. Checker crashed through the narrow wall that was the second fence, and Christian retired.
click here for results
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 26, 2026
Call it a crescendo leading to the big finale.
The last Adequan Winter Equestrian Festival Challenge class of the season on Thursday was a star-studded qualifier for Saturday’s $1 million Rolex U.S. Equestrian Open Grand Prix.
A field of 60 from 17 countries battled for 30 spots in the big class. The contest at the Wellington International showgrounds blazed in the Florida sun over a course designed by Guilherme Jorge and his team. The lineup included individual Olympic gold medalists and six of the world’s top 10-ranked show jumpers.
The competitors were riding not only for a piece of the $116,100 in prize money, but also for 30 slots in the $1 million 5-star.
The format was “winning round,” with the top 12 coming back to jump off. Theoretically. But five of the group declined to participate in the tiebreaker, saving their horses for the $1 million effort this weekend.
One who didn’t have to worry about that factor was the winner, U.S.-based Irishman Shane Sweetnam, who was fault-free in 39.71 seconds with Coriaan van Klapscheut Z to edge European Champion Richie Vogel of Germany on the aptly-named gray stallion, Cloudio, timed in 40.53.
Richie Vogel and Cloudio.
Cori was doing the groundwork for Shane’s top horse, James Kann Kruz, so he could gain a slot in the big class. James Kann Kruz, fondly known as Gizmo, had been double-clear as part of the second-place Irish team last weekend in the Longines League of Nations class at the World Equestrian Festival in Ocala. So he deserved a break.
As far as Cori went, “there were two plans for him this week: One to qualify and two, to win the class,” said Shane. Mission accomplished.
“In other years, Gizmo has jumped this class and I’ve scratched the jump-off.”
In view of the fact that Gizmo wasn’t as fresh as he could have been because of his Ocala effort, Shane noted, “I thought (entering Cori) was a better gamble and also keeps Gizmo fresh for Saturday night.”
Shane Sweetnam and Coriaan van Klapscheut Z.
He was full of praise for Cori, a 10-year-old Zangersheide son of Comme Il Faut 5, calling him “a brilliant horse. He’s so consistent, and especially the last six weeks, we’ve really sort of figured each other out and we’re in contention for most classes.”
Shane noted he had ridden the horse’s granddam, Coriana van Klapscheutz.
“She won an awful lot of WEFs in this ring as well, so it’s in his blood,” he said, noting the horse has “a very high ring IQ.”
Ben Maher, the Tokyo Olympics individual gold medalist, shocked onlookers when his mount, Dallas Vegas Batilly, refused the second fence, then did it again on another try smashing through the rails as Ben and the horse’s bridle headed groundward..
The obstacle was an airy vertical with a rail set diagonally across the open area of the jump. But since Olympic gold medalists have automatic entry to the $1 million class, we can expect to see Ben participating.
One big name who won’t be in the line-up Saturday is McLain Ward, who had a hairline fracture in his hand after a fall earlier this month and is not competing as a result.
Those who qualified for the tiebreaker but played it safe by opting out were tied for eighth. They included Belgium’s Nikola Philippaerts (Gadget Mouche), Ireland’s Darragh Kenny (Eddy Blue), France’s Nina Malavey (Dynastie de Beauvoir), and Karl Cook (Caracole de la Roque) and Spencer Smith (Keeneland) from the USA.
The last chance for riders to qualify is Friday’s 1.50 meter class. It also has 60 entries.
Click here for results.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 15, 2026
A unique talent is embodied in the magnificent stallion United Touch S, whose ability was showcased with a resounding victory in the Rolex Grand Prix Sunday afternoon at the Dutch Masters.
The 14-year-old son of Untouched was the only entry in an 11-horse jump-off for the featured class at the Netherlands Indoor Brabant show to finish the tie-breaker route in less than 40 seconds. The Westfalen star was clocked in 39.42 seconds for a clean trip under the guidance of Germany’s individual European Champion, Richie Vogel.
Richie Vogel and United Touch S on their way to victory.
Second went to Belgian rider Thibeau Spits on another stallion, the Zangersheide Impress-K van’t Kattenheye Z, more than a second slower in 40.76. Third went to Pieter Devos, also Belgian, with Casual DVZ another Zangersheide, in competitor, in 42.95. It’s a reminder, looking ahead to the world championships in August at Aachen, that Belgium was the winning team in last year’s European Championships.
How did United do it? Richie has the answer: “I’m just delighted how everything worked out. He’s an incredible, amazing horse, the way he can jump those oxers out of tight turns. He’s probably the only horse in the world who can handle it like that.”
Ah, there it is. United was able to roll over the route designed by Louis Konickx in a breathtakingly agile style that made his distances into shortcuts and brought the 300,000 Euro winner’s share to his rider.
The victory is part of the Rolex Grand Slam series, where three wins in a row brings a rider who makes the triple play a 1 million Euro bonus. The USA’s Kent Farrington, winner of the Geneva Rolex Masters in December and world number two, made the jump-off with Toulayna but had two rails down to wind up tenth. So the scepter was passed to Richie, whose next challenge in the series will be at Aachen’s regular show in May.
“All the Rolex majors are the best shows in the world, the best riders with the best horses on the world compete here,” observed Richie, acknowledging, that being the next in line for a shot at the Grand Slam involves “A bit of pressure toward Aachen — but it’s a nice pressure to have.”
Dutch dressage legend Anky van Grunsven presented a trophy to Richie Vogel.
The best U.S. performance came from Lillie Keenan, the country’s other rider in the class in s’Hertogenbosch. She had a rail at the VDL oxer, the third fence on the shortened route, but claimed sixth place with Kick On in 40.82 seconds.
Scott Brash, the only rider ever to win the Grand Slam, will have his 2014-2015 record of consecutive victories in Geneva, Aachen and Spruce Meadows with Hello Sanctos standing for a while longer. The British star ranked world number one was first of 37 starters to go in the class aboard Hello Chadora Lady. But the winner of the Rolex Top 10 last December in Geneva caught the back pole at the seventh fence, the pink and white VDL oxer. He finished twelfth.
click here for results
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 11, 2026
The fate of the Maryland 5-Star event really wasn’t in doubt since word surfaced late last year that financial issues were affecting the Sport & Entertainment Corporation of Maryland, which presented it.
But on Tuesday, the U.S. Equestrian Federation made it official, announcing that the facility at Fair Hill would not stage either the October 5-Star or the 3-Star that was also a part of its program for the last five years.
USEF “has been in regular communication with the Maryland Stadium Authority to support their ongoing discussions surrounding the future viability of the Maryland 5-Star. The current licensee, the Sport & Entertainment Corporation of Maryland, due to apparent financial concerns, will not host the CCI3*-L or CCI5*-L in 2026.”
USEF’s statement said it “is working with a new potential licensee for the CCI3*-L for 2026 and will share updates about the future possibilities for the CCI5*-L as soon as possible. The timeline and FEI requirements to host an event of this stature are published to support any efforts to pursue an application in the future.”
Yet on Wednesday, the Fair Hill Foundation called the decision not to hold the 5-Star this year a pause that “reflects confidence — not uncertainty. It is a proactive step grounded in responsible stewardship and a shared belief that the Maryland 5-Star deserves the time, leadership, and operational depth required to thrive for decades to come. The Foundation is confident in this direction and will continue to provide support through various means to ensure a strong return in 2027.”
Having the event skip a year and come back in 2027 could be a difficult strategy, since momentum would be lost and competitors likely would wonder about the viability of the 5-Star when they plan their schedules.
The foundation, however, states that the 2026 3-Star “will take place as planned, supported by members of a well‑resourced organizing group, including the very experienced Fair Hill International team, many (of whom) will be engaged in the next chapter of the Maryland 5-Star. This team ensures continuity for athletes, owners, and fans, while allowing thoughtful preparation for the 5-Star’s return. In coming days, there will be updates related to the CCI3-L plans for 2026.”
Entries for the 5-star have been relatively light for the last few years after a strong debut for the event. By the time autumn rolls around each year, some top event horses have wrapped up their season, whether because they have done enough for the year or are recovering from physical setbacks.
The calendar also hasn’t been the event’s friend, with France’s Pau 5-star scheduled for the week after Maryland, an easier trip for Europeans than crossing the Atlantic. Maryland also conflicts with another French fixture, Le Lion de Angiers, the Young Horse eventing world championships. And some have cited the debut of the U.S. Open of eventing, a lucrative 4-Star the week before Maryland, as another issue in the viability of the 5-Star on a crowded roster of dates.
Looking ahead to 2027, the Fair Hill Foundation said a leadership and organizational structure is “being assembled to guide the Maryland 5-Star forward. A highly capable, cross‑disciplinary team has been identified, and work is underway to finalize the framework that will support the event’s long‑term success. This approach allows future partners and sponsors to engage with clarity and confidence, understanding both the vision and the commitment behind the investment.”
In the view of the foundation, “The Maryland 5-Star was always intended to be more than a moment — it was meant to be a legacy. The Foundation views this period as an opportunity to honor what has been built while ensuring that the event becomes a world‑class 5-Star competition worthy of Fair Hill, Maryland, and the global sport of eventing.”
The spring Kentucky 5-star also has been running in one form or another since the late 1970s and is a solid fixture at the Kentucky Horse Park. But questions arose when a U.S. autumn 5-star was proposed, as to whether it could get sufficient support from competitors both in the U.S. and abroad so close to the end of a long season.
Also, since competitors can qualify for championships by their record in 4-star events, 5-stars may not feel as relevant as they once did. Not everyone is interested in taking on the sport’s ultimate challenge category. They are still a goal for some, however.
Caroline Pamukcu, who finished fourth in the 2025 Fair Hill 5-star with her 2024 Olympic horse, HSH Blake (and eleventh with HSH Tolan King), was a “huge fan”of the (Maryland) event.
“I think the 5-star is a really important part of our sport. Going 5-star really helps prep me and my horses for big championships,” she said.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Eventing Association has pledged support for the 5-Star and its future, stating it “has made the MARS Maryland 5- Star a focal point of our fall media coverage and has supported it both publicly and privately with the regulatory bodies of our sport, as well as with others in positions to positively influence the event’s long-term success.”
The USEA has further supported the Maryland 5-Star by allocating the USEA Young Event Horse East Coast Championships to the event while helping fund the development of the YEH cross-country course through various terrain builds. The organization confirmed the those East Coast Championships will continue in the fall this year.
“We are committed to running the YEH Championships at Fair Hill if the CCI3*-L takes place on that weekend, subject to the USEF’s negotiation with the new licensee, and approval of the USEA Board of Governors,” said USEA CEO Rob Burk.
“However, we know there are a couple of other venues who would be eager and willing to host the YEH Championships, and we would be willing to relocate. But for the time being, we are committed to holding it on the same dates at the same venue, if that is possible.
“This championship is a premier showcase for the nation’s top young horses and consistently draws more than 75 horses (along with wait-listed horses due to the limited number of competition spots), as well as their riders and owners each year, drawing additional international attention to the event and making it a significant and highly visible feature of the Maryland 5-Star,” the USEA statement continued.
The organization has been a sponsor of the Maryland 5-Star by securing and funding multi-million-dollar competition liability insurance. It also has worked to bring new sponsors and partners to the event.
“We know that the Maryland 5-Star also generates substantial economic impact for surrounding jurisdictions. The state of Maryland can be incredibly proud of this event, and the work that all those involved have put in to make this a globally recognized competition in the Olympic sport of eventing.”
Attendance last year was 32,000, an 11 percent increase over 2024.
The future of the Maryland 5-Star, which was looking dicey after all the principals of the Sport & Entertainment entity departed late last year, became even more of a question in February, after the Maryland Division of Legislative Services discussed 2027 budget proposals before the state Senate Budget and Taxation Committee.
To insure that “new grants are not crowded out by large ongoing grants,” the department recommended that grants for the 5-star should be deleted for the next fiscal year, beginning July 1.
In November, it was projected that the state could have nearly a $1.5 billion shortfall for fiscal 2027. Maryland’s numerous financial issues include work involved with Pimlico and Laurel racetracks. The lottery fund backing stadium authority bonds is approaching its debt limit, and there is concern that the rebuild of Pimlico, home of the Preakness Stakes, could push it over the line.
Maryland Sports Authority Chairman Craig Thompson had said this year that “the plan is to move forward in October” with the 5-star. But neither he nor MSA Executive Director Michael Frenz, who is retiring in April, responded to requests for interviews. There was no information about who could organize a 2026 5-Star, who would be on their team and where the money would come from to fund it.
The five-year-old Maryland 5-Star had received approximately $3 million annually from the state. This event also got money for capital improvements on the under-utilized state-owned Fair Hill property. A tax filing from 2023 shows the event reported $7.6 million in expenses and $1.4 million in sponsorship revenue.
