Great Britain’s Polly Stockton Takes Early Lead at Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, Presented By Bayer, April 24–27

Lexington, KY—April 24, 2003—Polly Stockton of Great Britain took the early lead following the opening day of dressage on Thursday, April 24, at the 2003 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, Presented by Bayer, at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY.

Riding the English-bred Tangleman, Stockton rose to the top of the field with a score of 43.40 penalty points.

“I have been riding Tangleman for almost two years, I took over the ride when he was an eight-year-old,” said Stockton, 29, who traveled from England to participate in the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event for the first time in her career. “I think this event is amazing! Back home, we are always told how incredible it is, but you can’t believe it until you see it for yourself!”

American riders Heidi White and Marcia Kulak finished the dressage portion in second and third positions. White of Chadds Ford, PA, riding her 10-year-old English thoroughbred gelding, Northern Spy, earned a penalty score of 45.80 in her first visit to the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. Kulak, who contested the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2000 with another mount, is in third position with a score of 49.80 penalty points riding Horton Who, a 10-year-old American thoroughbred gelding.

“It is nice to be in this position, but we all sit here knowing the toughest challenge is still ahead of us,” commented Kulak, 42, of Scotia, NY.

Two-time Olympic medallist Karen O’Connor, who has twice won the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event in her illustrious career, is currently in fourth position with Joker’s Wild. British entry Leslie Law and Shear L’Eau round out the top five.

Of the 56 horse starting field, 28 performed the dressage test on Thursday, April 24. The remaining 28 competitors will compete on Friday, April 25, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Dressage, the opening phase of the three-day event, is held over two days to accommodate the large number of entries. The challenging cross-country phase of competition will be held Saturday while the 2003 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, Presented by Bayer, concludes on Sunday with the third and final phase of stadium jumping.

The CCI**** Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, the only three-day event in America to be held at the Olympic level, serves as the U.S. Equestrian Team (USET) Four-Star Championship.
Along with the exciting equestrian action, the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event features an International Trade Fair with more than 125 merchants, the Priefert Six-Horse Percheron Hitch, the USPC Prince Philip Cup and a variety of other fun family activities and entertaining attractions.

Current results and other interactive features are available on the official Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event web site, www.rk3de.org. For ticket sales or additional information, please contact Equestrian Events, Inc. at (859) 254-8123, or by faxing (859) 254-5116.