Tamra Smith (USA) and Mai Baum at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ held in Lexington, KY.



Just 0.1 Points Behind Overnight Leaders Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous

Lexington, Kentucky – April 23, 2021

Tamie Smith (USA) and Mai Baum came close to matching Marilyn Little’s historic leading CCI5*-L dressage score with an impressive mark of their own. A 21.8 placed Smith and the 15-year-old German Sport Horse in second just 0.1 points behind Little and RF Scandalous heading into Saturday’s cross-country at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ (LRK3DE) at the Kentucky Horse Park.

“That was definitely his best performance. He was such a showman,” Smith said. “He was actually really nervous. It was kind of cute because normally he doesn’t really get nerves. He kept blowing his nose and wasn’t eating today. I think he knew it was a big day. He went in the ring and it was absolutely stunning. I almost cried. It was just so nice to have him go in there and have such a good performance.”

“Lexus” was previously ridden through the CCI3*-L level by Alex Ahearn, who owns him along with Ellen Ahearn and Eric Markell. Alex offered the ride to Smith in 2015, and they went on to win The Dutta Corp/USEF Three-Star Eventing National Championship the same year.

“He’s a phenomenal creature. I had always admired him from afar … Now I get chills every time I think about that night [when Alex offered me the ride]. It changed my career,” Smith said. “It took me some time to get to have a partnership with him because he was very much Alex’s horse, but I feel like he’s a hand in the glove now. We’re such good friends.”

Smith and Lexus have numerous wins at the Advanced level, but this is the gelding’s CCI5*-L debut.

“It was a choice we made. We had high hopes for him going to the Rio Olympic Games and we chose not to do a Five Star until now,” Smith said. “Looking back I don’t know that I would do that again. We really wanted to have a chance to do an Olympic Games and that just happened to be four years later — or five because of COVID. We are here. We are ready.”

Course designer Derek di Grazia has set an impressive cross-country challenge for competitors. It has been commonly said the course looks less intimidating the more it is walked, and Smith believes it is well suited to her mount.

“He is a big, galloping type horse. He’s also quick and naturally fast and rideable,” Smith said. “When I first walked it there were a couple of combinations I was quite worried about but they look really rideable now. I feel like I have a good plan. I feel ready. … The plan is to not leave anything on the table, so here we go.”

Looking to the rest of the field, Oliver Townend (GBR) has two in the top five. He sits in third place with Cooley Master Class on 24.1 and in fifth place with Ballaghmor Class on 26.5.

Boyd Martin (USA) piloted all three of his CCI5*-L entries into the top eleven: Tsetserleg TSF is fourth (25.4), On Cue is seventh (27.0), and Long Island T is equal eleventh (28.2). The last ride of the day, Buck Davidson and Carlevo, slotted into sixth place with a 26.7.

It was an impeccable two days of dressage, with the top 20 CCI5*-L competitors all ­­­scoring under 30.0. Now all eyes turn to Saturday’s cross-country.

Visit the LRK3DE Virtual Experience Webpage, brought to you by SmartPak, to find all the information you need for the 2021 LRK3DE.

Known as “The Best Weekend All Year,” the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ (LRK3DE) hosts one of only seven annual Five Star three-day events in the world and is serving as a U.S. selection trial for this summer’s Tokyo Olympic Games. As the United States’ premier three-day event, LRK3DE serves as the Land Rover/USEF CCI-5*-L Eventing National Championship presented by MARS Equestrian™ for U.S. athletes.

A new partnership between EEI and the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation combined with the support of US Equestrian (USEF), longstanding sponsors Land Rover, MARS Equestrian™ and Rolex and many other valued event sponsors, plus the collective efforts of the many individuals who donated, ensured that the nation’s premier equestrian event will be held with its traditional CCI5*-L in the afternoons and a new CCI4*-S in the mornings. Although the event is being held without spectators, it can be seen live online on the USEF Network, free of charge with a USEF Fan Membership, which is available at no cost using the code LRK3DE21.

The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ is indebted to all of its sponsors for their support, without which the event could not be possible.

About Equestrian Events, Inc.

Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable Kentucky corporation that was established initially to produce the World Three-Day Event Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park in 1978. Following the success of those championships, EEI established an annual event that evolved into the world-renowned Kentucky Three-Day Event which draws more than 80,000 spectators to the Kentucky Horse Park each year. EEI also produces other events and supports several local and equine charities. EEI has d­onated more than $725,000 to various charities since 2011. Further information about EEI and the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event is available at www.kentuckythreedayevent.com.

About the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation

Since its inception in 1985, the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation has provided over $25 million worth of improvements, helping make the Kentucky Horse Park the leading equestrian facility of its kind in the world. The Kentucky Horse Park Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to enhancing, expanding, and improving the Kentucky Horse Park. Further information is available at www.khpfoundation.org.