By Jeannie Blancq Putney

Lucinda Fredericks and Headley Britannia Keep the Lead to Win Their First Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event

Lexington, KY – The sun was out, the tears were plentiful, and the women dominated in the final phase of the 2009 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event.  Australia’s Lucinda Fredericks and her 16-year-old, 15.3-hand Thoroughbred-cross mare Headley Britannia came away the big winners after a double-clear round in show jumping, finishing on their dressage score of 32.3.  Second place went to an equally tearful Bettina Hoy of Germany and her 18-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, Ringwood Cockatoo, with a final score of 38.4.

Just two years ago, Fredericks’ husband came away the big winner at this event, but today was clearly about the women in the family.  This dynamic duo won Burghley in 2006, Badminton in 2007, and were silver medalists at the 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong.  Fredericks becomes the first to win in the Kentucky Horse Park’s new stadium, used for the first time at Rolex Kentucky 2009, and built to serve not only the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games but also the many different types of equestrian events currently held at the Park and to be scheduled at this tremendous venue in the years to come.

‘Brit’ came to Fredericks to be sold, and obviously it was not meant to be—and Fredericks is thankful for that, because she got a horse of a lifetime.  “She’s a winner.  She tries her guts out.  She has the attitude to do well.  She’s one in a million.  Brit owes me nothing now.”  The pair almost didn’t come to Rolex and only made their decision in late March after Fredericks’ husband encouraged her to come.  Fredericks plans to use some of her winnings to do some embryo transfers with her successful mare who is one of few mares that has won all three legs of the Rolex Grand Slam, Eventing’s Triple Crown.

With her husband by her side and having the focus of the champion, Fredericks made history.  “I’ve been pretty focused all week,” she said.  “I haven’t had any other people to worry about.  Normally I do a lot of training so I have pupils at the same events with me.

This week really came down to Brit and myself.”  Fredericks said she knew after jumping her first warm-up fence that her mare felt great.  “Brit didn’t put a foot wrong in show jumping, and she’s going to go to a lot of people’s hearts; she’s certainly gone to ours.”

Hoy was delighted with her second place and overjoyed with her horse.  “I could not be any prouder of my horse,” she said.  The way he performed all weekend…he was a true champion.  Rolex Kentucky lived up to everything I have heard about it over the years, and I look forward to returning.”

Third place went to Buck Davidson and one of his two mounts, My Boy Bobby, with a final score of 40.2.  “When I walked the course, it looked a little bit easier than in years past,” said Davidson.  “I wasn’t sure if it was actually easier or if I was just on better jumpers than I had been in the past.  I think the ground had everything to do with it.  There were so many colors and so much to look at.  It was fairly solid looking.  It wasn’t too airy, and the horses tended to relax in this stadium quite well.”

Just 35 of the original 52 entries completed today’s Richard Jeffery-designed course which consisted of 16 total jumping efforts with an optimum time of 92 seconds.  There were 15 double-clears in front of a crowd of more than 19,000.  One horse-and-rider combination, Arctic Dancer and Ralph Holstein, was asked to re-present at this morning’s inspection and was not accepted.  Missy Ransehousen and Critical Decision withdrew before show jumping.

Receiving the Best Conditioned Award after three days of competition was Opposition Buzz and Nicola Wilson of Great Britain.  The J.D. Reeves Perpetual Trophy went the Madeline Blackman as the highest-placed young rider.  Arthur and Allison Springer received the Zeppa International Trophy for making the best presentation in the first and second horse inspections.

If the 2009 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event was any indication of what is to come at next year’s test event and the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, fans will not be disappointed.