Stars, stars, stars! Great Britain’s Zara Tindall, the former European and world eventing champion, just entered next month’s new Maryland 5-star at Fair Hill. Queen Elizabeth’s granddaughter joins her country’s team gold medal Olympian Oliver Townend, the world’s number one-ranked eventer and now a contingent from France, Maxime Livio and Astier Nicolas.
Zara Tindall of Great Britain in competition. (Photo © by Shannon Brinkman)
Spectators weren’t permitted at the Land Rover Kentucky 5-star three-day event in April, but fans at last will have a chance to watch the highest level of eventing in person at Fair Hill, where the cross-country course has been designed by Ian Stark. The Scotsman is a four-time Olympic silver medalist and three-time Badminton 5-star winner who still competes at the lower levels.
The Oct. 14-17 event offering $325,000 in prize money, has attracted an an impressive list of entries. In the 5-star, which has a $100,000 first prize, eyes will be on Zara, who is the daughter of Princess Anne and former U.S. eventing coach Mark Phillips, who is also an Olympic medalist and noted course designer. Zara is riding Class Affair, a 12-year-old Irishbred on whom she finished 18th at Aachen last month.
Oliver Townend will present a challenge for all participants as he rides his two-time Kentucky 5-star winner, Cooley Master Class. He won the 2021 Kentucky event on Ballaghmor Class.
Oliver Townend and his two-time Kentucky 5-star winner Cooley Master Class. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
There are plenty of international competitors, but U.S. riders account for the bulk of the entries. Quantum Leap will be ridden by Doug Payne, who was the highest-placed U.S. eventer at the Tokyo Olympics on Vandiver. Also competing is his teammate, Boyd Martin aboard his Tokyo reserve horse, On Cue, as well as Long Island T, who won a prep over the weekend at the Horse Park of New Jersey..
Boyd is the top-ranked U.S. rider on the international list in eighth place.The third member of the U.S. Olympic team, Phillip Dutton, will be riding Fernhill Singapore and Sea of Clouds.
Other rider names you’ll recognize include Will Coleman, Will Faudree, Jennie Brannigan, Hannah Sue Burnett and many more. Interestingly, the 5-star includes an entry of Nick Larkin–a New Zealander who won the first Kentucky 4-star in 1998, at a time when that was the sport’s highest designation. He now lives in Kentucky.
The Maryland event will be the second 5-star for On Cue, ridden to fourth place last spring in her 5-star debut at Land Rover Kentucky. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
Among the riders coming from England, courtesy of arrangements by the Dutta Corp., are the number seven rider in the world, British-based Jonelle Price of New Zealand. She is bringing her Badminton winner, Classic Moet, and her husband, Tim, the world number two, will ride his Kentucky runner-up, Xavier Faer. Also along for the ride across the Atlantic is Britain’s Harry Meade with Superstition and Australian Sammi Birch with Hunter Valley II.
Kentucky drew a number of British-based riders in the run-up to the Olympics, but some this month optioned to compete in the one-off Bicton 5-star at home, replacing the Covid-cancelled Burghley fixture for this year only.
The Maryland event, one of only seven 5-stars in the world, is also hosting a 3-star–which will be held on the morning of the dressage and cross-country competition–as well as the U.S. Eventing Association Young Event Horse East Coast Championships, presented by Dubarry of Ireland.
Tim Price, second at Kentucky on Xavier Faer, will be going for the win this time in Maryland. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
The competition will be held at a new location down the road from where the old Fair Hill International was staged for decades.
The Fair Hill Organizing Committee, an affiliate of the Sport & Entertainment Corporation of Maryland, is selling reserved tailgate spots next to the cross-country course on Oct. 16.
“We are so excited to offer this fantastic tailgating experience at the inaugural Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill,” said Marissa Melzer, ticketing & hospitality director.
“The chance for families, friends and/or co-workers to be together outdoors for a day at beautiful Fair Hill this fall, while enjoying their favorite tailgating menu so close to these elite athletes and horses is sure to be an experience they’ll never forget.”
Prices range from $500 for a space along the 5-Star course, $300 for a space along the 3-Star course and $250 for a General Admission space. General admission tickets are available as well.
There will also be a variety of attractions, including a food festival and vendors. For ticket information, click here.