Olympians Head Huge Starting Field for 2002 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, Presented By Bayer, April 25 – 28

Lexington, KY—April 2, 2002—The top international competitors will be vying for victory in one of the world’s most prestigious equestrian competitions, the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bayer, held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington April 25-28, 2002.

With over 70 entries from Australia, Canada, the Dutch Antilles, Great Britain, Ireland, and the United States, there is no shortage of star power as the world’s best compete for $190,000 in prize money with the winner taking home $60,000 and a Rolex timepiece. In addition, the winner also has a chance at the $250,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing, awarded to any rider who wins the Rolex Kentucky, Badminton and Burghley Four Star events in succession.

Defending Rolex champion David O’Connor will be looking to make it two in a row, an attainable feat for the reigning Olympic champion who last year won the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event in dramatic fashion on Giltedge, owned by Jacqueline Mars. His wife and two-time Olympic teammate, Karen O’Connor, may pose the biggest threat, having tasted victory in 1999 with Prince Panache.

Following numerous top ten placings, including a fourth place finish in 2001 with Little Tricky, two-time World Champion Bruce Davidson will be looking for his first win in the four-star division at Rolex Kentucky. His son, Buck Davidson, 26, will also be hoping to improve on his best previous finish, a sixth place in 1998.

Finishing fourth in 2000 secured Kimberly Vinoski’s reputation as a force to be reckoned with while 2000 Olympian Julie Burns will be chasing international glory following two top ten placings in 1999.

Two-time Olympic team gold medalist Phillip Dutton of Australia will lead the international charge, eager to turn his second-place finish in 1998 into a win this time around. Fellow Olympic veterans Leslie Law and Ian Stark, both of Great Britain, Stuart Black of Canada, and Eddy Stibbe of the Dutch Antilles will also vie for victory.

America’s only Four Star Event, the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event is the premiere competition for the sport’s top horses and riders. In addition to the Olympics and World Championships, held every four years, the only annual Four Star Events in the world are Badminton and Burghley in Great Britain, Adelaide in Australia, and the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event.

The Three-Day Event is a complete test of horse and rider, evolving from the training and use of the military horse. The consecutive days of tests consist of three distinct elements: dressage, cross-country and show jumping. The horse-and-rider combination with the lowest overall penalty score from the three tests is the winner.

In addition to being an international equestrian event, the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event has something for everyone - an International Trade Fair with more than 150 merchant and food vendors, Dog Agility competition and a variety of other entertaining attractions.

For more information on the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, please call Equestrian Events, Inc. at (859) 233-2362, or fax at (859) 254-5116. General event and ticket information can be obtained at the Event's web site: www.rk3de.org or by calling (859) 254-8123.

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