The ROLEX Three Day is an eventing competition where horse and rider compete over three days in three different phases of competition. The first phase is dressage, a technical phase in which the rider must show the dexterity of the horse in completing a set pattern. This phase occurs on Thursday and Friday. All of the competitors then compete in the cross-country phase on Saturday, followed by the final show jumping phase on Sunday. All competitors are judged on various elements in the different phases, and the pair with the best score wins the overall competition. The ROLEX Three Day Event was won this year by William Fox-Pitt of Great Britain on his horse, Parklane Hawk.
William Fox-Pitt and Parklane Hawk preparing for their dressage phase.
The ROLEX is a fun event for the entire family, especially the cross-country day, which is a big draw for non-horse enthusiasts as well as the fans. During the competition there were also demonstrations going on, including a Pony Club Quadrille exhibition and a combined driving demonstration. There was also a Trade Fair set up during the day with plenty of shopping opportunities and food choices. Additionally, ROLEX is held at the Kentucky Horse Park, which has its own activities.
Combined driving exhibition.
I volunteered at ROLEX last year and again this year. Both experiences were a lot of fun and a great way to participate in the event that gives you a different perspective. Volunteering is another great way to experience such a prestigious event in the horse community if you can’t afford the ticket prices. Often volunteers get the chance to be closer to the action than the ticket holders. It truly offers a different perspective of a fun event.
Volunteering at ROLEX has it's perks. I'm sitting on part of a jump set up for the show jumping phase of competition.
I’ve included a lot of pictures I took in the following slide show. I was not at the event for show jumping, but there are good show jumping pictures at this site: EventingNation
Yesterday evening, a strong storm hit Louisville. I was driving home from Lexington at the time and was watching as I drove closer toward the dark storm clouds. It didn’t look too bad for a while, but then I started seeing lightning jump between the clouds. The rain started off slowly at first, but I was soon driving into a torrent; then the hail started falling. I have never driven in such a bad storm before so it was quite an experience for me.
The hail was falling rather hard so I joined the ten or so other cars and trucks that had stopped below an underpass to wait out the storm for a while. As more cars stopped, there was only about one lane of traffic actually open. After the storm started to lessen I ventured out again after the car that had been stopped in front of me drove off. It was still rather difficult to see, but luckily I was close to campus and knew the path home well.
Lots of small hail stones.
More Hail
Approaching campus, the storm had died down to a light rain; however, I then had to find a way around all the underpasses that surround campus to get to my apartment. I had to backtrack about three times after reaching flooded underpasses, but the police had done a good job of blocking off the areas so no one got stuck in the water. I was able to remember a way around the underpasses and get back to my apartment as the storm ended and it stopped raining.
Flooded Underpass
It was quite an adventure for me and I was lucky that the hail didn’t damage my car other than a few dents and I was able to make it home safely. With such a sudden and strong storm, others weren’t as lucky and experienced hail damage.
Just an update. Sorry I haven’t posted more recently. I have literally been cooped up in my apartment for the past two weeks. First I was sick and then I had finals to study for. I unfortunately missed Thunder Over Louisville in person, which means I will have to come back at some point in the future to see Thunder. I have my last final tonight and lots of plans for things to do this weekend starting with the Kentucky Derby Festival Balloon Glimmer tonight and then ROELX and Apassionata this weekend.
It’s not too late to get a Pegasus Pin for the Derby Festival events or tickets to ROLEX and Apassionata so you could go experience these great events for yourself. In case you can’t go or are too far away I will share my experiences with you here on my blog.
The University of Louisville has been my home for the past four years, but come May I will have to leave. I will be attending graduate school in a different state, but that’s beside the point at the moment. As graduation approaches, I have been thinking back on what I have done and experienced in Louisville and in the area, as well as about what I still would like to do before I leave.
I came to Louisville to earn a degree in Equine Administration. Louisville has been the perfect place for the horse fanatic that I am. Not only was I learning about the equine industry in the classroom, but I got to experience so many aspects of the horse world outside of class as well. My freshman year, I came to campus without a car. Shortly after arriving, I needed one to get to my job I got working at an equine hydrotherapy spa at Trackside Training Facility. The next year the spa moved to the backside of Churchill Downs. Not only did I get to spend those (very) early mornings petting the horses in the spa, but I got to meet a few well known trainers and horses.
I was also a member of the UofL Marching Band every year. It has been a fun way to practice my instrument and see a lot of the football games including two Bowl Games, but the band also plays at the Kentucky Derby. Performing at Derby is a huge bonus for the horse fan that I am. I still remember my first Derby when I played My Old Kentucky Home with the band (one of the few songs I actually memorized that year). I was literally about ten feet away from the winning horse, and I was also handed a Derby rose as we left after the presentation in the Winner’s Circle.
My First Kentucky Derby
Other great horse highlights for me was volunteering at the World Equestrian Games and the ROLEX Three Day Event at the Kentucky Horse Park. While not technically in Louisville, such events were well worth the hour or so drive to Lexington. Both events are great experiences for any horse lover and would be enjoyable to others as well. The World Equestrian Games was an important event as it is only held every four years. 2010 was the very first time it had ever been held in the United States. On the other end, the ROLEX is held every year at the Horse Park. While ROLEX is a ‘smaller’ event than the World Equestrian Games, it is still an important part of the equestrian community and a lot of fun to go and experience (the cross-country jumping phase is popular among the general public as well as horse people).
World Equestrian Games: Cross-Country
World Equestrian Games: Combined Driving Obstacle Phase
ROLEX Cross-Country Phase
ROLEX Cross-Country Phase
Louisville is a great town with lots of not so horse centered things to do going on throughout the year. I have been to numerous museums downtown including Fraizer History Museum, 21c, and the Science Center (several of the museums are free in general or for students). There are also many events that take place throughout the year, such as the St. James Court Art Show in the fall to Shakespeare in the Park over the summer. For theatre lovers, there is also more great productions put on throughout the area. A highlight that I enjoyed was Dracula put on by Actors Theatre around Halloween and the performances at Derby Dinner Playhouse just over the river in Indiana.
Sitting in Captain Kirk's Chair at the Louisville Science Center's Star Trek Exhibit
The cast of Dracula and myself
Looking back on my four years, I have experienced a lot that Louisville and the surrounding area has to offer. There are a few things I plan on enjoying again before I leave and some things I have yet to experience that are on my “to do before graduation” list. I’m volunteering at ROLEX again the last weekend in April. Then there’s the Pegasus Parade and Derby to look forward too the next weekend with band. I also hope to see one more play (possibly at Derby Dinner) with my parents before I leave. Then a “must do” is to experience more of the Kentucky Derby Festival. I plan on finally seeing the Balloon Glow, going to a few concerts, and definitely seeing Thunder Over Louisville in person instead of just watching on tv. With so much to see and do in Louisville, I’m sure I’ll miss something, but that’s just an excuse to come back and visit in the future.
Excitement is rising around Louisville as the UofL and UK basketball teams have entered the Final Four. The rivalry is heating up even more as the teams are set to play each other on Saturday. However, basketball may not be the only interest for Kentuckians in New Orleans this weekend. On Sunday, between the semifinals and finals, the annual Louisiana Derby will take place.
The Louisiana Derby is a prep race for the Kentucky Derby, one of the most well-known and most anticipated horse racing events of the year. Churchill Downs actually owns the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans and is planning on having a large crowd who will be taking a break from basketball to watch fourteen potential Kentucky Derby contenders race down the field.
Additionally, one jockey will be sporting special silks for the race. The racehorse Mission Impazible normally races under lime green silks with a chocolate diamond, but his enthusiastic owners have changed the silks for the Louisiana Derby to support their team in the Final Four. Unfortunately for UofL fans, Mission Impazible will be racing under “Go Big Blue” silks for UK.
It would add so much more to the strong rivalry if another horse were racing under the Cardinal of UofL, but no such luck for Louisville fans. However, fans from Louisville should remember that the Kentucky Derby takes place not Lexington but in Louisville, just a few miles from the UofL campus.
Taking a break from basketball, fans of both UofL and UK can visit the Fair Grounds Racecourse on Sunday to watch the Kentucky Derby hopefuls run. It will be interesting to see how the betting turns out as UK fans will likely bet on the horse sporting their colors, while the UofL fans will probably root for that same horse to come in last. It is bound to be an interesting sports weekend in New Orleans regardless. The long rivalry between UofL and UK will be spilling from college basketball and onto the racetrack.