Friday News & Notes from FLAIR

Geez, Boyd, don’t you have anything better to do than email me creepy stalker memes of yourself? So unprofessional.

The big news of Thursday was, of course, Boyd Martin and Remington’s late-afternoon lead. Their score of 45 will set the bar for today’s competition. Team Martin seemed pretty jazzed about Remi’s performance; Silva commented on their blog, “It was obviously an awesome day for us – I think Remington did his best test and I have to say Boyd rode his best test too.” As John said yesterday, there will likely be a fair bit of shuffling about on the scoreboard by the end of the day. Keep it tuned here for the latest. And to the riders: May the odds be ever in your favor. [Live Scores] [Ride Times]

Watch it here: USEF Network (Free, Within North America), FEI TV (Outside North America)

Dubarry Contest (Update): Today is the second day for the Dubarry contest, which will end in someone winning a trip for two to Ireland! Click here for details. Today’s photo prompt is “Dubarry Bling” – In recognition of the Kentucky Reining Cup find us at the Dubarry Booth or find your own location and create the ultimate Dubarry Western Look. Enter your photo on the Dubarry Facebook page.

Jimmy Wofford tells COTH what he really thinks about Derek di Grazia’s cross-country course. Spoiler: It’s all really nice, complimentary stuff. [COTH] And if you haven’t already, check out his USEA course walk here.

Course walks! Course walks! Course walks! (Thanks Abby Gibbon for doing the dirty work here.)

Friday, 10:30 a.m.: Eric Dierks and Ralph Hill, full course walk. Meet at the start box. [FLAIR]

Friday, 11:30-12:30: Boyd Martin and Allison Springer will lead the SmartPak Course Walk. No need to check in, just meet them at the start box. Rescheduled from Thursday.

Friday, lunch break: Doug Payne and Sharon White walk the course for Just World International. Meet at the start box ten minutes after the last ride of the morning session, and bring a donation to Just World that you’re comfortable with. The first 25 to arrive will receive a hat from Sharon’s sponsor Kerrits, and the first 10 will receive a coupon for a free Course Walk App.

Friday, 2:30: Laine Ashker is leading a course walk at 2:30 on Friday–open to all, meet at the start box.

Friday, 4 p.m.: Marilyn Little-Meredith, hosted by Bit of Britain and Cavalor. Meet at the Bit of Britain tent in the sponsor village.

Friday, after dressage: Buck Davidson‘s Just World International walk. Meet at the start box ten minutes after the last ride of the afternoon session with your donation to Just World. The first 10 in attendance will receive a coupon for a free Course Walk App.

Friday, after dressage: Jim Wofford’s annual walk. Meet at the first water jump 30 minutes after the last ride of the afternoon session. From Practical Horseman: “Plan to spend at least two hours on course. Wear comfortable, waterproof footwear, and come prepared for the weather conditions with an umbrella, jacket, sunscreen, bug spray, water and, if you wish, a portable chair or blanket to sit on.” [Practical Horseman]

Nightlife! OTTBs! Lyle Lovett!!

Friday, 6 p.m.: Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup’s $100,000 Concour de Reining International. Country music star Lyle Lovett is amongst the competitors. Alltech Arena. Tickets required. [AKRC]

Friday, 6 – 7:30 p.m.: A reception for stakeholders from both the thoroughbred racing and thoroughbred sport horse industries will be hosted by Keeneland, as which is the last day of Keeneland’s Spring Race Meet and the second day of Rolex dressage. The event is presented by the USEF, the Jockey Club, the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and Keeneland. The venue is the Limestone Cafe at the Keeneland Sales Pavilion, and it is scheduled for 6 to 7:30 p.m. Free food and drink, and the first 100 people receive tickets to a “Concert on the Lawn” afterwards. If you are interested in attending or send a message to Shealagh Costello at [email protected].

HorseMart posted a nice video roundup of some of Great Britain’s top Olympic eventing contenders: Mary King (Imperial Cavalier and Apache Sauce), William Fox-Pitt (Cool Mountain and Navigator), Piggy French (Jakata) and Nicola Wilson (Opposition Buzz). [Horsemart.co.uk]

Best of the Blogs: British eventer Lauren Shannon is blogging for Horse & Hound about being on the home stretch to Badminton. Today’s subject matter was the “glorious British weather.” She writes, “The one thing we can be certain of is it’s not going to be hard ground this year — I’ve already packed Louie’s snorkel and flippers….” [H&H]

Lauren Giannini from Sidelines is also out and about, getting her blog on. Check out Lauren’s Rolex blog here.

Hot on Horse Nation: Earlier this week, the USHJA issued a statement that is is “a strong advocate of allowing a horse to show expression, not to the point of it being a safety issue or significantly disrupting the round, but natural and enthusiastic about the job at hand.” As opposed to, you know, looking like it’s been lunged and drugged within an inch of its like. USHJA, the Horse Nation salutes you. [Goodbye, Zombie Hunters]

Top of the Tweets: From Leslie Threlkeld @LAThrelkeld, “One of my favorite parts about visiting Kentucky. Love. This. Beer. #rk3de http://pic.twitter.com/MHWJ2Nvj” Me too, Leslie! I always grab a case on my way out of town. Leslie also posted a lovely gallery of Day 1 dressage photos for US Eventing. [USEA]

Found on Facebook: From Heather Morris, “I want to thank Judith McSwain with Fleeceworks for the ribbons she made honoring Amy Tryon which us riders are proud to wear throughout the weekend.”

Update: Thursday Rolex video, courtesy of Josh Walker, Frankie Thieriot, and the USEA

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