Cooler weather is in the air, which means it’s time for the Mars Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill, returning this week to Elkton, Maryland, for its third running.
While inaugural winner Boyd Martin is bringing Contessa this year, defending champion New Zealand’s Tim Price had to withdraw his mount Falco after the horse had surgery to remove a nonmalignant tumor. There are still plenty of top contenders to keep an eye on, including Great Britain’s William Fox-Pitt (Grafennacht), who has won more five-stars than anyone else; Ireland’s Austin O’Connor (Colorado Blue), New Zealand’s Monica Spencer (Artist), Great Britain’s Piggy March (Brookfield Cavalier Cruise), New Zealand’s Caroline Powell (Greenacres Special Cavalier), and Great Britain’s Oliver Townend (Cooley Rosalent).
Representing the home nation as five-star winners are Martin and former Rolex Kentucky winner Phillip Dutton (Azure). The field also includes five five-star first-timers: Andrew McConnon (Ferrie’s Cello), Mia Farley (Phelps), Jacob Fletcher (Fabian), Sarah Kuhn (Mr. Cash Van De Start) and Arielle Aharoni (Dutch Times).
In addition to the five-star action, Fair Hill will host the USEF CCI3*-L Eventing National Championship and the Dutta Corp. USEA Young Event Horse Championships—East for 4- and 5-year-olds.
Event Schedule
• Wednesday, Oct. 18: The riders named to the U.S. Eventing Team for the 2023 Pan American Games (Chile) will do their dressage tests at 11 a.m.
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The first horse inspection begins for the three-star division at noon, and the five-star will be no earlier than 1 p.m.
• Thursday, Oct. 19: Dressage for the three-star will begin at 9 a.m.; five-star dressage will start at 2 p.m. The 4-year-old YEH champs take place with dressage and conformation beginning at 8 a.m., jumping and galloping starts 10 a.m. and awards at approximately 5 p.m. The 5-year-old dressage and conformation will start at 8 a.m.
• Friday, Oct. 20: Dressage continues, once again starting with the CCI3*-L at 9 a.m. before five-star competitors take over at 2 p.m. The 5-year-old YEH championship will conclude with jumping and galloping at 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and awards at approximately 5 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 21: Cross-country day starts at 9:05 a.m. with the three-star division. The five-star cross-country begins at 1:35 p.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 16: The second horse inspection begins at 8:30 a.m. with the three-star jogging first, followed immediately by the five-star. Show jumping for the CCI3*-L will be at 10:30 a.m., with riders going in reverse order of placing, followed by an awards ceremony. The five-star is scheduled to jump at 2 p.m. followed by the awards ceremony.
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The full schedule, is available here.
Entries: Check a list of entries.
Where you can watch: You can watch the livestream on USEF Network via ClipMyHorse.TV. A USEF membership or ClipMyHorse subscription is required.
How to follow along: The Chronicle will be on-site to bring you everything you need to know at coth.com, so you don’t have to miss a minute of the action. You can find all our coverage of the event in one spot, and you also can follow us on Instagram and Facebook. You can read more in-depth coverage in the Nov. 27 issue of the Chronicle.
Want to get to know them better? Go behind the stall door with us to meet some of the horses entered
