Oliver Townend celebrates his third consecutive Kentucky win. Will he make it four in 2022? Photo by Shelby Allen.
We’re crossing all of our fingers and toes that by next April we’ll once again be joining the throngs of spectators back at Kentucky Horse Park for the longest-running North American CCI5*: the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event. As of now, the event is full-speed ahead for 2022 and plans to welcome back spectators for the first time since 2019, April 28 through May 1 — and you can purchase tickets beginning October 5.
Though the event did run in 2021, the venue was closed to all but essential personnel, making for some eerie (but, admittedly, kind of cool in some ways) photos of cross country courses not filled with people or a mostly empty Rolex Stadium.
Jesse Campbell and Diachello jump in front of a sparse crowd at Kentucky 2021. Photo by Shelby Allen.
But with any hope, 2022 will look a lot more like we’re used to. To that end, tailgating spots for cross country day will once again be made available. Word to the wise, these tend to get snapped up quickly, as do camping spots in the KHP Campground, so it’s best not to sit on your laurels when it comes time to reserve.
Also making a return to Kentucky this year will be the Kentucky Invitational CSI3* Grand Prix presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, which is always a popular draw as a Saturday evening activity. Separate tickets are required for this event, and those will be available for just $5 plus fees.
Lisa Marie Fergusson and Honor Me. Photo by Shelby Allen.
If you donated to help save the event earlier this year, you will be eligible for a pre-sale to access admission before the general public. “We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to those who helped make the 2021 Land Rover Kentucky happen,” Lee Carter, Executive Director of EEI, said. “The ‘Kentucky Collective,’ as we call them, truly stepped up and showed the world how supportive the eventing community can be. The 2021 Land Rover Kentucky was incredible, albeit very different without spectators in Rolex Stadium and across the grounds of the Kentucky Horse Park. We are excited to offer qualifying Kentucky Collective supporters the chance to buy their tickets early this year and we look forward to welcoming them back to the 2022 Land Rover Kentucky in person!”
The Lexington CCI4*-S will also be returning to Kentucky, making it an all-out weekend of equestrian sport at its finest. We hope to see you in Kentucky next spring! Go Eventing.
