One Big Thing: A Record Year for the Kentucky Three-Day Event
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Our friends at EquiRatings always have the best and brightest statistical analyses for us before every 5*, but this year’s Kentucky has a high chance of being one for the record books. You may not have realized — to be fair, neither did we — but aside from Tamie Smith’s historic win in 2023, Michael Jung and Oliver Townend have been the only winners of the Kentucky Three-Day for the last 10 years. And because Phillip Dutton is the only previous Kentucky winner entered in this year’s competition, there is a 96% chance that this 2026 event will crown a first-time Kentucky winner.
The chances of a first-ever 5* winner standing atop the podium this weekend are also higher than normal, given that Phillip, Boyd Martin, Tom McEwen, and Tim Price are the only contesting riders with a previous 5* win under their belt. Regardless of the outcome, none of the current horses in the field are 5* champions, so we are guaranteed an emotional victory gallop come Sunday afternoon.
EquiRatings Eventing Manager 2.0
For more in-depth stats and rankings, check out EquiRating’s Prediction Centre for both the CCI5*-L and CCI4*-S. Once you’ve studied up on both, don’t forget to stop over and enter in your Eventing Manager team (the deadline is tomorrow morning) — and be sure to join the EN Eventing Manager league by using code PCTD or clicking here!
Major International Events This Weekend
Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5* (USA): [Website] [Tickets] [Schedule] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [Venue Map] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage] [Support Our Sponsor: Kentucky Performance Products]
Ballindenisk International CCI4*-L (IRL): [Website] [Schedule] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [CrossCountry App XC Map]
Strzegom Spring Open II CCI4*-L (POL): [Website] [Schedule] [Entries] [Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map]
US Events This Weekend
Loudoun Hunt Pony Club Spring HT (VA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map]
Horse Park of New Jersey Spring HT (NJ): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]
Other Links and Reading
Training Tip of the Day
The best XC training tips we can get are from the technical delegates themselves — listen in for their insights on course flow, safety, strategy, and what Kentucky riders can expect this year:
Go Eventing
What do the riders have to say about the difference between Kentucky’s 4*-S and 5*-L? Watch here to find out:
