Lucinda Fredericks and Headley Won Rolex
Brit and Buck and Cocky Dominated the Three-Day Kentucky Eventing
Jun 19, 2009
Women dominated the May 2009 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event at Lexington, Kentucky's Kenucky Horse Park, taking first and second places in the annual Grand Slam competition.
Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Winners
- First --- Headley Britannia (AUS) --- ridden by Lucinda Fredericks (Australia)
- Second --- Ringwood Cockatoo (Cocky) --- Bettina Hoy (Germany)
- Third --- My Boy Bobby --- Bruce (Buck) Davidson, Jr.
Tears Part of Winning Times at Ky Horse Park
The Kentucky Horse Park at Lexington, Kentucky yearly hosts the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Eventing, where tears were part of the emotional finish for first and second place winners Lucinda Fredericks, Australia, and Bettina Hoy of Germany.
Both women rode veteran horses with impeccable records of competition.
Fredericks and Headley Britannia of Australia held onto a slim lead of 32.3 in dressage by finishing a show jumping round in perfect unison. By the time Hoy crossed the final barrier free with Ringwood Cockatoo, both women displayed tears of relief and joy.
"Brit didn't put a foot wrong in show jumping," Fredericks praised her mare after the event. From the first warm-up fence jump, she said, she thought "Brit" was going to go well.
Fredericks and Headley Britannia
Fredericks acquired Headley Britannia, a sixteen-year-old Thoroughbred cross-mare, as a salable prospect, but marketing "Brit", Fredericks' nickname for her equine lady, did not come into being. "She's a winner," Fredericks told interviewers. "She tries her guts out."
Believing that she had picked up a horse of a lifetime, Fredericks followed the encouragement of her husband to enter Rolex Kentucky. Two years earlier, Fredericks' husband had been victorious at the Lexington event.
Brit is Multiple Year Events Triple Crown Winner
Headley Britannia is one in a million. She has won each of Eventing's Triple Crown competitions, Burghley (2006), Badminton (2007), and Kentucky (2009). Winning the Rolex Grand Slam is a rare accomplishment.
Fredericks plans to try to keep "Brit's" genes flowing. She will use some of her cash reward from the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event for embryo transfers from the champion mare.
Hoy and Ringwood Cockatoo
Hoy's Ringwood Cockatoo is an eighteen-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding. "Cocky" finished the competition with a 38.4 final score.
"I could not be any prouder of my horse," Hoy told interviewers. "...he was a true champion."
Hoy also had much praise for the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event program. "...Rolex Kentucky lived up to everything I have heard about it over the years," she claimed, adding that she looked forward to returning to the competition.
Davidson, Jr. and My Boy Bobby
Davidson, Jr. finished the Rolex Kentucky competition aboard My Boy Bobby with a total score of 40.2 points. He also rode a second mount.
He said his horses relaxed very nicely in the new stadium atmosphere.
New outdoor stadium construction at The Kentucky Horse Park is on schedule to host the September 2010 World Equestrian Games.
