Sixteen Thoroughbreds to Compete in North America's Toughest Three-Day Event

Press release from the Retired Racehorse Project

There are 16 Thoroughbreds among the 56 horses currently slated to contest the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, held April 26-29 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.

All but one of the Thoroughbreds were bred to race, and 12 of them had starts at the track. You can read full biographies of all the Thoroughbreds here, but some of the more notable competitors include:

▪ AP Prime, ridden by Leah Lang-Gluscic: 2005 Kentucky-bred gelding (Aptitude—Czarina Kate, The Prime Minister). Earned $20,175 in 31 starts (2-4-5) and was placed via a listing from CANTER Illinois.
▪ Donner (racing name: Smart Gorky), ridden by Lynn Symansky: 2003 New York-bred gelding (Gorky Park—Smart Jane, Smarten). Earned $2,870 in 6 starts (0-0-0). Named Eventing Horse of the Year for 2017 by The Chronicle of the Horse; member of the U.S. team for the 2014 World Equestrian Games.
▪ Kelecyn Cognac (racing name: Heir Pegasus), ridden by Waylon Roberts: 2003 Australian-bred gelding (Fusaichi Pegasus—Dreamland, Sadler’s Wells). Earned $1,991 in 10 starts (0-1-0).
▪ More Inspiration, ridden by Holly Jacks-Smither: 2005 Ontario-bred gelding (Inspired Prospect—Gentle Buck, Buckley Boy). Earned $55,560 in 28 starts (4-2-2).
▪ Steady Eddie (racing name: Big Jet), ridden by Boyd Martin: 2003 New Zealand-bred gelding (Jetball—Tuonela, Chief’s Crown). Earned $19,852 in 36 starts (7-2-3).
▪ Tsunami (racing name: Tsu Tsu Ro), ridden by Sally Cousins: 1999 Pennsylvania-bred mare (Roanoke—Tsu Tsu Slew, Tsunami Slew). Earned $35,170 in 24 starts (3-2-4). Cousins and Tsunami have already completed this event four times, with their highest placing being 14th in 2012.

The event is designated as a "four-star" Concours Complet International (CCI) by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), the international governing body of horse sports. A four-star ranking is the highest level of difficulty—there are only six of these events held annually in the world, and Land Rover Kentucky is the only one in North America.

Retired Racehorse Project will be at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, providing coverage of the Thoroughbreds competing and operating a booth in the trade fair with information about the Thoroughbred Makeover.

We'll also be holding two Thoroughbred Makeover Preview demonstrations, featuring several horses who will be back at the Horse Park in October to compete for the title of America's Most Wanted Thoroughbred. One of the Makeover hopefuls is Cozmic One, the first foal out of Zenyatta, recently retired from racing and starting a new career under the guidance of three-time Thoroughbred Makeover Show Jumping Champion Isabela de Sousa.

You can find RRP's entire schedule of events at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event here. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for updates from the competition.

Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) is a 501(c)3 charitable organization working to increase demand for off-track Thoroughbreds and build the bridges to second careers. It publishes Off-Track Thoroughbred Magazine, hosts the Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, maintains the Retired Racehorse Resource Directory, manages the online Bloodline Brag, and presents programs at major horse expos across the country. Visit RRP online at RetiredRacehorseProject.org.