Classic Eventing Nation

Tamie Smith and Mai Baum are the first U.S. leaders of LRK3DE going into show jumping since 2008, when Becky Holder held the lead after cross country. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

It would be foolish to expect a CCI5* leaderboard not to shift after cross country. But it was hard not to allow a thought into the back of mind that we’d perhaps be looking at a similar-looking top three after today’s action, with the reigning World Champion sitting in command atop the standings. It was Great Britain’s Yasmin Ingham‘s title to take hold of after the first phase — all that stood between her and an overnight lead would be a clear and quick cross country round.

But this is horse sports, and we know it’s rare things go 100% to plan. Sadly, it would not be the Pratoni gold medalist’s day to recreate the magic as Yasmin and Banzai du Loir (Nouma d’Auzay – Gerboise du Cochet by Livarot) made an uncharacteristic mistake at the C element of fence 6, the Park Question. This coffin complex caused difficulty throughout the day, along with its counterpart on the CCI4*-S track, and here Yasmin and Banzai would here have their hopes dashed. They would recollect to deliver a fault-free remainder of their round, but their hopes of taking the crown this weekend were no more.

Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

“Unfortunately, not our day today,” Yasmin said after her ride. “It’s the highs and lows of horses, and they’re not machines — they remind us of that. Just an early on blip, unfortunately, just didn’t quite get to the C element of the Park question, but after that, we put that behind us and cracked on with the rest of the course. Actually, you’ve kind of got to take positives from a bad situation sometimes. Overall, I’m really happy that he got sucked back in and finished really, really well.”

Yasmin has had the misfortune, along with the rest of the UK riders, of not having many runs coming in to this event due to weather cancellations. This and a long hold she encountered at the start, she noted, could have factored into the trouble she experienced early on. “Unfortunately, we haven’t had the spring we usually have, so that is something to think about maybe,” she said. “Also, we were held at the start for quite a long time, which might have just took his concentration away, maybe took his eye off the ball, who knows. The main thing is that the rest of the round was really, really good, and I’m taking positives away from it.”

Tamie Smith and Mai Baum. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Earlier in the order, the task fell to third-placed after dressage Tamie Smith and the Ahearn and Markell family’s Mai Baum (Loredano – Ramira by Leoni), who came devastatingly close to taking the win here in 2021 save for an ill-timed frangible pin penalty accrued at the Park Question. On that year’s course, this complex came toward the end of the track, while in 2023 it was placed at fence 6.

“Oh, absolutely. One hundred percent yeah,” Tamie said when asked if she felt any trepidation about the question. “I was definitely happy it was at the beginning of the course. And jumping in, he jumped right over the rails, but when he jumped the ditch, he went very direct, which probably was good because the two is quite long and I didn’t really know that — I didn’t get to watch very much. I was really happy to have that behind me. But with so much to do after that, you know, you got to put it behind you. It didn’t ride as smoothly as I was hoping but it’s five-star for so you just you react and you get it done.”

Behind her it was, and from there the game was about making the most efficient trip possible. In a fantastic display of partnership, Tami and Mai Baum worked together through the grueling 11 minutes and 26 second track, stopping the clock with two seconds in hand.

“I think I was more tired than he was!” Tamie laughed after her round. “I was just like, ‘Come on buddy!’ If I had a mic on me, you could have heard me just say, ‘Come on, you can do it!’ He got tired at one point, but I got up and kept going.”

Tamie Smith and Mai Baum are the first U.S. leaders of LRK3DE going into show jumping since 2008, when Becky Holder held the lead after cross country. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Tamie spent the early parts of her season practicing her dressage and show jumping, the latter of which will come into play tomorrow as she does not have a rail in hand over second-placed Tom McEwen and JL Dublin.

“I work with Scott Keach [in show jumping],” she elaborated about her winter. “[He’s] a really brilliant coach who’s been helping me for the last probably three years, most exclusively the last two. We have a lot of really great super show jumping venues [in Southern California] and it was actually spectacular because Ali Nilforushan ran this event in Del Mar in this really trappy, kind of high atmosphere stadium, which it’s the first year they’ve done that. It was great to get [Mai Baum] in there, especially after the World Championships. He’s a spooky horse, so it was really great to prep him at that event. I think it was great preparation.”

Also somewhat different from recent years this winter was Tamie’s decision not to go East for the spring and rather to stay in Southern California and use their strong early-season schedule to leg her horses up.

“Part of the reason I stayed home is because it’s a Pan American Games year,” she elaborated. “I think on the Olympic and World Championship years, I have to be east to compete head-to-head, not necessarily to get a different venue. The venues that we have in California are, although unique, up to standard and they definitely prepare your horses great.”

Tamie’s clear round inside the optimum today will keep her on her dressage mark of 24.2, 3.6 penalty marks ahead of Tokyo individual silver medalist and team gold medalist Tom McEwen and JL Dublin. As for her plans for tonight? “A lot of praying!”

Tom McEwen and JL Dublin. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Tom McEwen Makes a Stamp in Second

It’s a relatively new partnership in second place, with Great Britain’s Tom McEwen putting in a flowing and forward round with JL Dublin (Diarado – Zarinna by Canto), collecting 5.2 time penalties (“something that can easily be changed for another time”) to go onto a two-phase score of 27.8.

Like Yasmin, Tom also had a less than ideal lead-up to this weekend due to ongoing event abandonments on account of weather troubles. This can make for a nerve-wracking experience, to come all the way across the pond without a solid string of preps in your back pocket. Tom, as always, is quick to credit former rider and 2019 European Champion Nicola Wilson for the work she put into training “Dubs” before an accident at Badminton last year forced her retirement from the sport.

“I thought the course was magnificent,” Tom commented. “It was presented beautifully. For me it rode perfectly, really. There’s a few things that you always change. I was delighted with Dubs. And for me, I’ve had a very short partnership with Dublin and it just shows to me what an amazing job [Nicola] had done with Dubs and what a partnership they’ve created.”

Though a 5* brings its own challenges in terms of fatigue on the final day, JL Dublin would be a dependable show jumper on most days: he jumped a clear round under pressure with Nicola to win the 2019 European Championships in 2019, and also jumped clear in his first 4*-L with Tom at Boekelo last fall en route to finishing second.

Tom also noted that despite his time penalties and his competitive nature, it was in a way a nod to how much partnership-building the pair has yet to do, with less than a year together under their belts. “Once you get to know a horse for years, you know what you can do but for me that was the right decision for today,” he said. “And realistically, what has it cost us, maybe three places? And yes, I am competitive, but there’s more to life than taking too many risks.”

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Miks Master C. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Liz Halliday-Sharp Survives Initial Flag Penalties

Initially after finishing a stellar round with 5* debutant Miks Master C (Mighty Magic – Qui Lumba CBF by Quite Easy), Liz Halliday-Sharp was given 15 penalties for missing a flag at the angled hedges following the Normandy Bank. After review, the penalties were removed to bump Liz up into third place overnight. She added 1.6 time penalties to her dressage marks to finish the day on a score of 28.5.

It was always Liz’s plans to test Ocala Horse Properties‘ and Deborah Palmer’s Miks Master C’s mettle today, having done her prep work early in the season to ensure she had the rideability and adjustability she needed to be able to go fast today. “I planned to try and make time with him because he’s a spectacular horse and he’s a great galloper and I think the world of him,” she said. “So I just sort of planned to go out of the box and see how he was tackling the course and he was absolutely brilliant. He wasn’t slightly tired at the end, and I was a little bit running out of controls there too, as I was like, ‘Whoa, boy, let’s get this done in your first five-star.’ So I’m a little disappointed not to make the time, but look, he was outstanding. We haven’t even been together a year, so this is amazing. He’s an amazing horse and such a fighter, and he just fought the whole way around. He’s something else.”

Indeed, you don’t have confirmation — despite any successes achieved at levels below — that a horse is a 5* horse until you’re out there finding out for yourself. It requires trust and grit to go out with a plan to go for it in a debut, and this plan paid off well for Liz and her connections.

Liz also noted the strategy of taking the gelding bred by Laurie Cameron to Boekelo last year (they finished fifth individually there), as the Dutch venue is famously packed with spectators on cross country day to give a bit of atmosphere practice. “It’s interesting, because I think Boekelo was the making of him,” she explained. “Because[at] Boekelo he noticed the crowds at the beginning — and here not even once, he just went and did his job. That’s why going to those overseas events is so great for us as riders, and we’re lucky to have those opportunities because it teaches a horse like this to embrace crowds — because he’d never really left North America until then, and now he knows his job.”

Sandra Auffart and Viamanta du Matz. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Viamant du Matz Makes Short Work with Sandra Auffarth

Keen and impressive in his Kentucky debut was Nikolaus Prinz von Croy’s Viamant du Matz (Diamant de Semilly – Heralina X by Voltigeur le Malin X), 2014 World Champion Sandra Auffarth’s Pratoni partner. The 14-year-old Selle Francais gelding positively skipped around what would be his first 5* test — though his resume certainly boasts enough experience that you’d be forgiven if you thought this level was old news for him. Despite Sandra’s decision not to opt for a 5* competition until now, “Mat” has contested the Tokyo Olympics and also contributed to Germany’s team gold medal in Pratoni in 2022.

“Here and there, I had a little moment, but he was very safe just from the “something in-between” distance. He was super — super straight and super focused. He run easily in the time so I’m very, very proud of my horse. He was super fit in the finish, and that is the best thing for a rider, when it comes out of such a big cross country and you feel your horse is fit in the finish, and feels alright and also that the horses enjoy it, that is the best.”

Sandra and Viamant du Matz’s clear round inside the time (11:20) boosted them from ninth after dressage into fourth overnight. It’s been a successful first trip to the Bluegrass State thus far for Sandra, who noted some key differences in this track compared to some other big venues she’s competed at.

“It’s a really interesting countryside with the little hills up and down, but from my feeling, in the right way,” she said. “So it’s work for the horses to go up, but then they can breathe and then it goes again a little bit down, so they can again recover quickly and that makes it fun for both — for the rider and for the horse — and I think that is the best use. In other cross countries, you have sometimes it goes too much up so that you really come to the point that the horse is getting tired, but here it was really, really nice and it’s fun to ride a little bit up and down. It feels really like cross country riding.”

Will Coleman and Off the Record. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Coleman Makes Moves

Will Coleman experienced a lengthy hold, along with Emily Hamel, Yasmin Ingham, and Maxime Livio, when Jennie Saville’s Stella Artois was pulled up due to lameness late on course (Jennie has since updated her social media to say that Stella was transported to Hagyard out of caution for examination), while on board his first ride, the Off the Record Syndicate’s Off the Record (Arkansas VDL – Drumagoland Bay by Ard Ohio). The hold for Will came later on course, allowing him to pick up and make short work of the latter third of the track to stop the clock bang on the optimum time of 11:26.

“To get the time on him was a major accomplishment for us,” Will said, noting his always studious efforts to try to better understand and manage his horses. “We’ve spent a lot of time brainstorming and tweaking his conditioning over the last couple of years; he has no blood. He doesn’t really have what I would call a real natural gallop — he doesn’t really open his stride up very much, so he sort of sprints his way around, and there’s only so much we can do to really change his way of going — that’s his natural stride. We’ve really just tried to work on developing a greater burst, with interval training with sprinting, and we do it on a hill. I could get very detailed and nuanced with you, but long story short, we’ve just steadily been building that base of quick fitness into him. He’s just able to give me a little bit more bursts later in the course each time I come to one of these things. Today, he definitely got a breather from the hold [on course], but he was really — I thought — close to the minutes, and he finished like a bullet.”

Indeed, the 14-year-old Irish gelding has made three trips to the Bluegrass State, getting progressively quicker across the country with each try before finally catching that elusive time today. For a partnership that’s been in the works since the gelding was four, it’s a rewarding point for his rider.

“It was amazing just how different he’s run each year he’s come here,” Will commented. “The first year he came here, it was like your first time playing in the NFL, and then the second year was a little better, and then this year, he seemed to finally go out there and really just attack it the whole way around.”

Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Hotly anticipated as the final rider out of the box on his second horse, Chin Tonic HS (Chin Champ – Wildera by Quinar), Will fairly quickly rid himself of the notion that the time would be gotten with the 5* debutant, choosing instead to prioritize positive experience and education for the future. The pair delivered a classy clear, accumulating 14 time penalties (35 seconds) to add to his dressage mark for a score of 39.0. This will drop the pair into 12th overnight, but don’t count them out for a move up the board yet after tomorrow’s show jumping.

“This was kind of my expectation; I knew he would probably be looking for the finish flags a little earlier than where they were,” Will said of the 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding sourced in Germany by Hyperion Stud owner Vicky Castegren. “And that’s normal, I think, for horses like him who aren’t tons of blood and haven’t done this before, but I do expect he will develop from this. I couldn’t be prouder of the way he finished — he just kept jumping, he kept trying, he was so honest — I think it speaks to really what a quality animal he is.”

“He lost a few seconds just being green, honestly,” Will continued. “He kind of had a few jumps, where it just felt like he was somewhere else — looking at the crowds, a little bit like a kid the first time he goes to a Taylor Swift concert or something. He was kind of looking everywhere but at the stage. I think he will get better, he’ll get more seasoned, and I think it’s a little bit the same thing. He probably has a bigger stride than Off The Record, but he also loses his burst as he fatigues. The non-natural gallopers, it just takes time. He’ll get it — he’s only 11 and this is his first time, so I think it will just be a little bit of a process for him.”

David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Other Notables: David Doel the Speed Demon, Boyd Martin’s Debutant

Fastest of the day on the CCI5* track was Great Britain’s David Doel, who stopped the clock with Galileo Nieuwmoed (Carambole – Sjaloma by Harcos) at 11:07.

“He stayed really nice and careful all the way around. He just really kept jumping, he was mega, and he’s got a lovely balanced gallop. I was almost came home a little bit too quick. But he just stayed in such good rhythm jumping out of his rhythm. And so, I just let him just canter underneath me.”

Boyd Martin and Contessa. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Boyd Martin brought a debut horse with him this year in the 14-year-old Holsteiner Contessa (Contender – Veritas by Esteban xx), owned by Club Contessa. The pair put in a class clear, and Boyd was thrilled with his newly-minted 5* horse.

“She’s such a good girl. She’s very green to get to this event. I didn’t know how she’d cope with it and she felt green, but god she’s a trier. I had her very fit and she gave me a great round. She’s only had eight Advanced runs in her life, so I was sort of thinking, ‘God I hope I’m doing the right thing.’ The first part of the course is quite challenging, and so once she got through the coffin I thought, ‘alright we’re in business here’. I never really got after her about the time; I thought I didn’t quite know how she’d be towards the end and she had plenty left. She did it easier than i thought she would.”

Boyd retired his Tokyo and Pratoni partner, the Turner family’s Tsetserleg TSF, after running into trouble early at the MARS Sustainability Bay (fence 4). “Thomas has got one flaw as a cross country horse: he is very, very fresh at the beginning and he he has trouble turning right,” he noted after he returned to the vet box. “When I walked the course, I knew that would be a challenge, that fence — so I jumped it well and he was sort of looking for a jump off to the left, and I was like, ‘go right, go right!’ and I couldn’t get in there, and circled around and popped it. You know, he’s an older horse that’s been there and done everything, and I didn’t see the point in galloping around for another 11 and a half minutes, so we’ll save him for another day.”

Will Faudree and Mama’s Magic Way. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Breaking Down the Numbers

The 2023 5* track saw a 70.3% completion rate and a 54.1% clear rate. 16.2% (6) of the pairs jumped clear inside the time. Fence 6C a the Park Question was the most influential, with three refusals and one retirement occurring here. Problems were otherwise scattered throughout: the MARS Sustainability Bay pulled a few issues, as did the DEFENDER Head of the Lake and the Normandy Bank. One pair fell at the second hedge of the Normandy Bank: Allie Knowles and Morswood (both are reported to be fine and resting comfortably). Eight pairs opted to pull up on course, and three were eliminated on account of falls (two rider falls and one horse and rider fall). Two horses were diagnosed with soft tissue injuries: Daniela Moguel’s Cecelia was found to be lame after finishing the 4* and is resting comfortably Rood & Riddle, and Jennie Saville’s Stella Artois was pulled up at fence 27 when Jennie felt something was not right under her. The mare was transported off cross country in the horse ambulance and is currently at Hagyard; she was diagnosed with a soft tissue injury to a different leg than the one she had recovered from a previous injury.

Karl Slezak and Hot Bobo. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Karl Slezak Tops the Board for Canada in Lexington CCI4*-S

The big, challenging CCI4*-S cross country course was a big ask for Karl Slezak’s Hot Bobo. Having only moved up to Advanced this spring, “Bobo,” a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare had her work cut out for her today around Derek di Grazia’s nearly seven minute track, but she exceeded even Karl’s expectations, coming home clear and inside the time to jump from seventh into the lead.

“I was a little concerned with crowds. It’s the first time she’s seen the crowds — and as a young horse she was really spooky, it wasn’t until kind of a year and a half ago she really started to step up to the plate as far as tunnel vision and just focusing on the jumps,” he said. “You just never know in a place like this, but she was on it — she was spot on.”

Karl and his wife bough the mare on something of an impulse at the Monart Sale in Ireland, and at first, he wasn’t sure if his choice was a mistake, but she’s only continued to prove herself for Karl, especially in the last year.

“She’s always been a bit funny, but I always believed in her. She’s finally come along and just loves it — it’s just unbelievable. She’s got some Thoroughbred in her, which is very different than my Fernhill Wishes horse who was always a very kick ride — this one, you can kick it, but then it goes,” he said.

Karl and Bobo were one of only three pairs to make it inside the time today, leaving them as the only combination to remain on a sub-30 score of 29.3.

Tamie Smith and Solaguayre California. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Third-placed Tamie Smith stepped up into the reserve role with Julianne Guariglia’s Solaguayre California, a 12-year-old Silla Argentina mare (Casparo — Solaguayre Calandira, by Casall). They added 2.4 time penalties for a two-day result of 30.

“California… she just came out this year really understands her job now. It’s been an exciting journey with her because she used to just balloon up over into the into the water and spook at the coffins, but she’s just answered all the questions easy [today]. My last combination was a little hairy, but she’s so honest and fights through the flags that it didn’t really matter,” Tamie said.

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Be Cool. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Liz Halliday-Sharp was admittedly frustrated at the end of the four-star cross country when her overnight leader Cooley Nutcracker, a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Tolant R —  Ballyshan Cleopatra, by Cobra) owned by the Nutcracker Syndicate (which consists of Liz, Deborah Halliday, Ocala Horse Properties, and Renee Lane), activated a collapsable table at fence 18, which loaded 11 penalty points to their score, which is now 40.3 for 15th place.

Despite this, she set out with her second ride, Cooley Be Cool. The Ocala Horse Properties’ and the Monster Partnership’s 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Heritage Fortunus — HHHS Carlota) was intended to debut at the five-star level in a few short weeks at Luhmühlen, but Liz said today’s cross country was educational on that front as a rider. “Dave” came home 14 seconds up on the clock for third place on 31.3 points.

“He was a little bit slow, actually, and I just was saying to Erik [Duvander], I always believe the horses will tell you what they’re ready for, and I don’t think he’s ready to go to five-star in June just yet,” Liz said. “I think he needs a bit more fitness and he needs some time on my hill, and he just needs one more four-star. I think that’s what he was telling me, because he is normally a fast horse, and I think his fitness isn’t just quite where it needed to be. He jumped all the jumps brilliantly, he was confident and brave and foot perfect everywhere, but we just weren’t that fast — I think that’s why we’re here, it’s great to get that education and just listen to your horses.”

David O’Connor’s Phelps (Tiznow – Boomtown Gal) is another entry who stepped up today for his rider Mia Farley. She and the 10-year-old Thoroughbred are fourth after only 1.6 time penalties brings them to a current score of 33.

Sydney Elliot is fifth with QC Diamantaire, a 13-year-old Oldenburg (Diarado — Lantana, by Sandro Hit) owned by Carol Stephens, with 4.4 time penalties.

Phillip Dutton and Azure. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Phillip Dutton used the leaderboard as a ladder after producing a double clear round with Azure. Placed 29th after dressage, the efforts of the Moran Family’s 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Omar — Cavalier Roselier, by Cavalier Royale) landed him all the way in sixth.

The only other entry to add no penalties today was Leah Lang Gluscic and the ageless OTTB A.P. Prime who are currently tied for tenth.

We’ll resume competition tomorrow with the Final Horse Inspection tomorrow at the ungodly hour of 7:30 a.m. Both the 4*-S and the 5* horses will trot up in front of each division’s respective ground jury. The 4*-S will then begin show jumping at 10:45 a.m, followed by an awards ceremony. The 5* will reach its conclusion with the commencement of show jumping at 2 p.m., with awards to follow.

Be sure to stay tuned for what’s sure to be a classic ending to another great weekend in Kentucky. Until tomorrow!

LRK3DE: [Website] [5* Times] [5* Scores] [4* Times] [4* Scores] [Schedule] [Live Stream] [Tickets] [EN’s Form Guide] [EN’s Coverage] [EN’s Ultimate Guide]

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3, 2, 1, go! Have a great ride. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

It’s finally here: cross country day for the CCI5* here at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by MARS Equestrian. We’re just about set to get underway with our pathfinders, Buck Davidson and Erroll Gobey, out of the start box at 1:20 p.m.

The optimum time for Derek di Grazia’s track is 11 minutes, 26 seconds — the longest time on this course dating back at least 10 years. It’ll be a grueling test, but the conditions couldn’t be much more perfect with cool temperatures and overcast skies. We got just enough rain this week to make the going perfect, so we are in for an exciting day of sport.

Follow along here and refresh periodically for live updates from the cross country. You can also find information on how to watch live on USEF Network via ClipMyHorse.TV here.

LRK3DE: [Website] [5* Times] [5* Scores] [4* Times] [4* Scores] [Schedule] [Live Stream] [Tickets] [EN’s Form Guide] [EN’s Coverage] [EN’s Ultimate Guide]

[Click here to catch up on all of EN’s coverage of the 2023 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event]

Want more LRK3DE info each day during competition? Sign up for the free LRK3DE Daily Digest email, which will be sent each day through Monday, May 1. Find all of EN’s latest coverage, sponsor promotions and discounts, chances to win daily giveaways, and much more! Click here to sign up.

4:39 p.m. Update: It looks like Liz’s 15 penalties have been removed, which now moves her and Miks Master C into third place overnight. Updated top 10:

4:20 p.m. And that will finish up a very dramatic day of cross country here at Kentucky! The leaderboard sees quite a shuffle, and we’ll have a U.S. rider in the driver’s seat going into show jumping — though the standings are tight and there is not much room to breathe. Here’s a look at standings after cross country:

You can catch up on the full leaderboard here. We’ll be back with a full report later this evening!

4:19 p.m. All class. Will won’t threaten for the win this weekend, but we’ve got a newly crowned 5* horse, at least now through two phases! What an effort from this lovely young horse, who should only continue to build fitness as he gains experience at these long events.

4:17 p.m. Chin is losing just a bit of steam but is still responding well to Will. He gives him a quiet pat as they clear the brushes at the Normandy Bank. They are definitely down on the clock at this point now, but I don’t know that Will will care too much about the time today for this first effort.

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

4:15 p.m. Impressively, Will is actually just about on the time as he passes the 7-minute marker ahead of fence 15 toward the Head of the Lake. Jennie is finished with just a handful of time.

4:13 p.m. Jennie Saville and FE Lifestyle are clear through the Head of the Lake on scores, though I’ve lost track of them on the monitors so I’m not sure where she is now. Will nicely navigates Pete’s Hollow and will now give Chin a chance to take a breath down this nice big downhill pull. Jennie pushes for the distance at the Cosequin Cove and is kicking for home with Foxy.

4:10 p.m. Chin Tonic HS makes my heart stop at the in to the MARS Sustainability Bay as he very nearly doesn’t get his legs up over the drop, but he recovers well. Will uses all his skill to navigate the Park Question. Clear so far.

4:08 p.m. And here we go: one of the most hotly anticipated 5* debuts I can think of with Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS. I think Will will be keeping an eye to the future for this one, so I wouldn’t necessarily expect him to push for the time. But anything is possible! Meanwhile, Buck ran into trouble as Carlevo stuttered to a stop at the brush corner out of the Head of the Lake and has opted to retire. Jennie Saville is nearly home with FE Lifestyle.

4:06 p.m. Buck and Carlevo are a little sticky through the Narrow Knolls at 14AB. Doug Payne and Quantum Leap will be a little down on their time but looking good coming to the final fence.

4:04 p.m. Jennie Saville is back with her third and final ride, FE Lifestyle. This is our second to last pair to see today.

4:02 p.m. Buck and Carlevo have probably the nicest ride through the Park Question of anyone today.

4:00 p.m. Hawley Bennett-Awad has called it a day with Jollybo after grinding to a halt in front of 17 at the Head of the Lake.

3:59 p.m. Doug Payne and Quantum Leap are now with us and make neat work of the Park Question. Hawley Bennett-Awad and Jollybo are clear so far through 14. Zach Brandt does get the job done, with the two jumping problems, and David Doel finishes in the fastest time of the day — 11:07.

3:55 p.m. David is, I think, the first one to take the wider turn at the Head of the Lake, opting for the right-hand side upright rails at 17.

3:53 p.m. Meghan O’Donoghue picked up just 2.4 time penalties. Canada’s Hawley Bennett-Awad and Jollybo are now on course.

3:51 p.m. Liz Halliday-Sharp has been assessed 15 penalties for a missed flag. My guess would maybe be at the Park Question. Buck has also been assessed additional penalties for a missed flag. Not sure where that would have been. Zach picks up an issue now at Pete’s Hollow.

3:50 p.m. Looks like Zach has had a bit of trouble at the BC element of the Rolex Grand Slam. David Doel reallyyyyyy works to make the Park Question happen.

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

3:47 p.m. Meghan O’Donoghue is having a heck of a ride, clear so far through the Head of the Lake. Nothing runs like a Thoroughbred!

3:46 p.m. Cornelia Dorr and Daytona Beach 8 nearly have a similar issue at the B element of the Cosequin Cove but they’re able to get over safely. Zach Brandt takes the long option at the Park Question and is clear there. We also welcome British rider David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed.

3:43 p.m. James Alliston is home with Nemesis as we’re getting ready to welcome Zach Brandt and Direct Advance seeking their first 5* cross country completion today.

3:41 p.m. James Alliston picked up 20 penalties at fence 21, the second angled brush after the Normandy Bank.

3:40 p.m. Meghan O’Donoghue and OTTB Palm Crescent will be our next to see and are on their way out of the startbox.

3:38 p.m. Ahhhh no. Sydney Solomon and Early Review CBF come to grief at the Cosequin Cove and have a pretty scary looking fall. Luckily Sydney looks to be right back up and they are both going to fight another day. Cornelia Dorr has had trouble at the Park Question.

3:36 p.m. Next out will be Cornelia Dorr and Daytona Beach 8. Liz Halliday-Sharp is 4.6 seconds over and will go onto a score of 28.5.

3:33 p.m. Hang on gal! Sydney Solomon gets in the back seat as Early Review CBF takes a huge leap at the Rolex Grand Slam BC element.

3:32 p.m. We’re now joined by James Alliston and Nemesis, who was third in the Lexington CCI4*-S here in 2022.

3:31 p.m. Wow! Early Review CBF ducks a little right before the C element of the Park Question, but Sydney does an excellent job to keep her on task.

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

3:29 p.m. A look at Liz holding her line through the C and D elements of the tricky Park Question:

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

3:28 p.m. Liz is clear through the Equestrian Events Trifecta now, and now we’re joined by Sydney Solomon and Early Review CBF. This is a very cool moment for Laurie Cameron, who bred both Miks Master C as well as Early Review CBF. As the sole remaining rookie rider, Sydney is also in line to win the newly created trophy in honor of Jim Wofford for the best-placed first-timer.

3:25 p.m. Liz Halliday and Miks Master C are neatly through the first combination at 4ABC.

3:23 p.m. Next to see will be a very exciting pair, Liz Halliday-Sharp with Miks Master C, currently sitting on a score of 26.9 and fifth after dressage.

3:22 p.m. Boyd has made the smart decision to pull Thomas up after that trouble at MARS Sustainability Bay. No point in pushing this very experienced horse — we’ll see where Boyd reroutes next.

3:21 p.m. Boyd has donned his live cam once again. It looks like Colleen’s trouble came at the Equestrian Events Trifecta at 8. And Boyd has had a shocking runout at the C element of the MARS Sustainability Bay.

3:20 p.m. Boyd and Thomas are away as Yasmin comes through the finish flags. She’ll be devastated with the trouble. It looks like Colleen has had trouble on course but I’m not sure exactly where. They’ve called it a day.

3:18 p.m. Boyd Martin and his Tokyo Olympic partner Tsetserleg TSF are close to leaving the box.

3:16 p.m. Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights are now underway. I think Colleen may have fallen from “CR” in the warm-up, as I saw a horse that looked to be him loose.

3:13 p.m. Lots of drama now, as Yasmin now takes the long route at the Rolex Grand Slam. I’m not sure if they’ll call that a 20 at the BC, but she may have pulled off the line in time. Meanwhile, Booli Selmayr has fallen from Millfield Lancando at the MARS Sustainability Bay jumping into the water. They both appear to be fine, but Booli will be wanting some dry clothes.

3:11 p.m. And Tamie Smith WILL hold the lead now as Yasmin Ingham has just had a runout at the Park Question. A true shocker here, but this will drop this pair down out of contention and a real heartbreaker. Will Coleman also went inside the time with Off the Record, as did Emily Hamel and Corvett.

3:09 p.m. Here we go! Overnight leaders Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir are underway.

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

3:07 p.m. Maxime Livio has to work to get Carouzo Bois Marotin — who is quite fresh and keen — over the C element of Pete’s Hollow.

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

3:04 p.m. Emily Hamel and Corvett are neatly through the Angled Trakehners at the end of the course and are home clear! We will next see reigning World Champions Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir, looking to hold their lead over a hard-charging Tamie Smith.

3:02 p.m. We are getting a fair bit of rain now, but it shouldn’t affect the going too much at this point.

3:01 p.m. Will Coleman and Off the Record have been restarted at the Lincoln Lodge. He’s nearly home now so should have plenty of run after that hold.

2:59 p.m. It looks like Stella Artois has been safely loaded into the ambulance, and they’ll be taking her off course now. I’ll keep you updated though I know we won’t hear anything for awhile. We’ll be getting back underway soon.

2:48 p.m. The horse ambulance has been pulled out to the fence Jennie and Stella are at. We won’t have any further information on what happened for awhile, but we’ll keep you updated on what we know as we find out.

2:46 p.m. We’re going to go into a hold now, as Will Coleman has been pulled up and Yasmin Ingham is held at the start. Emily Hamel and Corvett are also being held after the Head of the Lake. Maxime will also be held.

2:44 p.m. Something has gone wrong for Jennie Saville and Stella Artois. I didn’t see if there was a jump issue, but Jennie is off and Stella looks to be lame on a front leg. It’s at the Angled Trakehners, the penultimate combination.

2:43 p.m. Maxime Livio and his impressive Carouzo Bois Marotin are underway as Will Coleman navigates the Head of the Lake safely with Off the Record.

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

2:40 p.m. Buck stops the clock about 40 seconds over the time. Jennie is clear through the head of the Lake with Stella, and we’re also joined on course by Emily Hamel and her jumping bean, Corvett. Coleman is clear at Pete’s Hollow at fence 12, the very topmost point of the course.

2:38 p.m. Buck has a runout at the third element of the Normandy Bank at 21, but is clear on second attempt and starting to make his way toward home.

2:37 p.m. Will Coleman and his Aachen winner, Off the Record, are away and clear through the water at fence 4.

2:36 p.m. Zara Tindall is going to collect 30 or so seconds of time but is home clear with Class Affair. Buck and Sorocaima are clear through the Head of the lake, and Jennie has to ride for it at the Rolex Grand Slam but she and Stella are clear there too.

2:34 p.m. Buck Davidson and Sorocaima (another OTTB!) are now on course. Zara Tindall is clear through the Cosequin Cove.

2:33 p.m. Jessie Phoenix came home clear in a time of 11:31 to collect just a few time. Jennie Saville is now back out with us on Stella Artois.

2:31 p.m. “Right at the end, I think I was more tired than him just telling him every stride “bigger, faster!”. He’s not got a lot of Thoroughbred in him, but he’s got a heart the size of Kentucky.” — Tamie Smith on Mai Baum’s efforts today. Tom McEwen and JL Dublin actually did have some time, as his time is listed as 11:39 on the scores, meaning Tamie will now move into second at worst overnight.

2:29 p.m. I haven’t seen much of Jessie Phoenix and Wabbit, but I believe they’re clear through the Cosequin Cove.

2:25 p.m. A look at Tom McEwen and JL Dublin into the Head of the Lake.

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

2:24 p.m. Now away are 2006 World Champion rider Zara Tindall and Class Affair.

2:22 p.m. JL Dublin is looking smooth as silk about halfway through this long track. If they can keep this flow, the time should be getable for this pair.

2:20 p.m. Tom McEwen and JL Dublin are clear through the Rolex Grand Slam as we’re joined by Jessie Phoenix and OTTB Wabbit.

2:16 p.m. 11:24 is Tamie’s time — she’ll be on her dressage score heading into tomorrow, no worse than third depending on the outcome of the rest of the day!

2:15 p.m. I THINK Tamie just made the time….will confirm. Tom McEwen and JL Dublin are set to get underway.

2:14 p.m. Tamie is really going to have to push to get home close to the time. Mai Baum hasn’t lost his jump, but he’s definitely digging deep to get this job done.

2:13 p.m. Just kidding, Lauren Nicholson and Landmark’s Monte Carlo have withdrawn and did not start. Tamie threads the needle at the Cosequin Cove but they’re still clear.

2:12 p.m. Sandra came home 6 seconds under time.

2:11 p.m. Tamie is clear through the Head of the Lake with Mai Baum. He gave plenty of air to the Narrow Knolls at 14. I think Sandra Auffarth just made the time.

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

2:10 p.m. Kirsty Chabert has had an issue at the Park Question, she’s clear on the long route now.

2:09 p.m. Also away are Lauren Nicholson and Landmark’s Monte Carlo.

2:08 p.m. Great Britain’s Kirsty Chabert and her #supermare Classic VI are away! Tamie is clear through the Rolex Grand Slam and en route to Pete’s Hollow.

2:06 p.m. The pin stays up at the Park Question! Tamie takes the right flag at the brush at C, but they should be safely clear.

2:05 p.m. Sandra and Viamant du Matz look really quick here. She’s through the Hollow. Tamie is clear through the MARS Sustainability Bay.

2:03 p.m. Tamie Smith and Mai Baum will leave the start box shortly.

2:02 p.m. Viamant du Matz peeks at the ditch at the Park Question, but once again Sandra says “you gotta do this

2:01 p.m. Sandra shows her experience with a very keen Viamant du Matz and is clean through the MARS Sustainability Bay.

2:00 p.m. 2014 World Champion Sandra Auffarth is out of the box with Viamant du Matz. She’ll have the course to herself for the time being.

1:59 p.m. Liz is going to do her darndest to get close to the time, but I think she’s going to get into some penalties.

1:57 p.m. Deniro Z looks to be looking a little bit of steam as they head to the Normandy Bank. Woods Baughman has run into trouble early at the MARS Sustainability Bay, grinding to a halt at the B element. He’s going to call it a day here.

1:55 p.m. Here’s a look at Boyd’s live cam on Contessa through the brushes at the Normandy Bank. This is a really impressive round from this rookie horse.

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

1:54 p.m. Another 20 now at the Park Question for Alina Dibowski. I think she’s going to go ahead and put her hand up here. What a bummer.

1:53 p.m. Alina Dibowski and Barbados 26 have run into trouble early with a runout at the angled brush C element of fence 4 (MARS Sustainability Bay).

1:51 p.m. Phillip says he’s going to appeal his time penalty. Boyd and Contessa have navigated the Head of the Lake, and Erin Kanara has finished a clear round with Campground.

1:49 p.m. Liz and Deniro Z take the right flag at the out of the MARS Sustainability Bay but they’re through and on their way.

1:48 p.m. Phillip’s time has been updated to 11:27, so he’ll pick up .4 time. Erin Kanara and Campground are through the Head of the Lake. Leaving the box now are Liz Halliday-Sharp and Deniro Z.

1:47 p.m. Boyd growls at Contessa to get her some gumption through the Park Question. He’s actually wearing a live helmet cam for this — pretty cool!

1:45 p.m. Allie Knowles and Morswood have fallen at the second of the angled brushes, fence 21 after the Normandy Bank. They’re both immediately up and look to be ok.

1:44 p.m. A big fist pump from Phillip and a hug from Evie Dutton at the finish. He’s thrilled, rightfully so, with Z. They made it look a walk in the park.

1:43 p.m. Phillip’s time should be fairly good, I think he’s going to get it — 11:26 easily. Boyd and his debutant, Contessa, are away.

1:42 p.m. Campground makes neat work of the Park Question. Z is just about home, heading to the Trakehners at 27.

1:40 p.m. Erin Kanara and Campground are away – another Thoroughbred to add to the roster. I believe Will stopped the clock with about 10 seconds of time.

1:39 p.m. Will is pushing for the clock here and is safely home now.

1:38 p.m. Allie has made it safe through the Park Question as Phillip heads to the Lake with Z. Mama’s Magic Way is looking full of run as they head for home.

1:37 p.m. Looking good through the angled brushes at the Normandy Bank for Will and Mama’s Magic Way.

1:36 p.m. We’re now joined by Allie Knowles and Morswood.

1:36 p.m. 11:54 looks to be Jennie’s finishing time.

1:35 p.m. Twillightslastgleam is still galloping really well as he makes his way to the final combination at the Angled Trakehners. They’ve just got one more to jump. We’ll see what their time looks like, but they are carrying 11 penalties.

1:33 p.m. Will and Mama’s Magic Way have to work to get out of the Hollow clean, but they’re through. Phillip is clear through 4.

1:32 p.m. Tokyo Olympians Phillip Dutton and Z are out of the box.

1:32 p.m. Gosh what a horse. Twilightslastgleam jumps very intelligently up the bank and out over the big corner out of the Head of the Lake. Mama’s Magic Way is coming to the Rolex Grand Slam, he’s clear there.

1:31 p.m. Twilightslastgleam hops up the mound to make a neat footwork job out of the Narrow Knolls at 14. She now heads to the iconic Head of the Lake.

1:30 p.m. “Mason” is catty and cool through the Park Question – he’s set the standard early on!

1:30 p.m. Jennie is clear and bold through Pete’s Hollow at 12.

1:29 p.m. Mama’s Magic Way leaves a bit of a leg at the in to the MARS Sustainability Bay at 4 but keeps his feet and Will is strong in the saddle to keep going and they’re clear through.

1:28 p.m. Will Faudree and Mama’s Magic Way now join us on course.

1:26 p.m. Ah! Twilightslastgleam has the MIM rail down at the Park Question, but she kicks on and makes the B, C and D elements work.

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

1:26 p.m. Jennie makes quick, direct work of the MARS Sustainability Bay at 4. Love a Thoroughbred on a day like today!

1:24 p.m. Buck now picks up at 20 at the open corner at 8. He’s going long now and he’s putting his hand up. A good decision as Gobey never really seemed to get into any sort of rhythm. A bummer early on. Meanwhile, we’ve got Jennie Saville and Twilightslastgleam out of the box.

1:22 p.m. Gobey slithers over the rails into the Park Question at 6 and then has no power or gumption to make it to the arrowheads at C and D. He swings around for the long route and is clear there.

1:21 p.m. Buck opts to swing wide and give Erroll Gobey plenty of time to see the angled brush at C at the MARS Sustainability Bay at 4 after a difficult jump at the B. A wise decision to inject some confidence and attention into this 13-year-old gelding early on.

1:20 p.m. Andddd – here we go! Buck Davidson and Erroll Gobey are away, and they’re looking for a good run here as pathfinders.