Rolex Watch U.S.A. Renews Support of the United States Equestrian Federation and the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event
RELEASE: April 24, 2009
AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: By Joanie Morris
Lexington, KY – Rolex Watch U.S.A. is synonymous with excellence in sport and 2009 marks the 28th year that this great patron of equestrian sport will serve as the title sponsor of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. Rolex Watch U.S.A. has just continued that commitment with the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) for four more years. The very best horses and riders from around the globe annually compete at this Olympic-level competition, the only one of its kind outside of Europe.
“The benefits from this union have been countless, and Rolex Watch U.S.A. is proud to continue its tenure as title sponsor of this world-class sporting event and the USEF,” said Allen Brill, President and CEO of Rolex Watch U.S.A.
The United States Equestrian Team and subsequently the USEF have thrived under the incredible support of Rolex.
“This event is synonymous with the name Rolex,” said John Long, USEF CEO, speaking from the 2009 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. “In most cases, it is largely referred to as simply ‘Rolex’. That kind of association and branding is the living proof of the strength of the relationship between the USEF and Rolex Watch U.S.A. We are thrilled to embark on the third decade of this partnership.”
Title sponsor of the event since 1981, the innovation that Rolex is known for continued in 1998 when the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing was introduced. It seemed impossible: that one Eventing rider could win three CCI****s consecutively.
Five years later, Great Britain made the impossible come to life and Pippa Funnell hit a home run in 2003, winning Burghley, Kentucky and Badminton in succession.
The feat has yet to be duplicated and the best horses and riders in the world will continue that quest under the Rolex name into the next decade.
Another British rider, William Fox-Pitt, is the only rider live in the Rolex Grand Slam in 2009. The Rolex Grand Slam features three major international CCI****s (Badminton, Burghley and Rolex Kentucky) and a cash prize of $350,000 awarded to any rider who can win the three competitions in succession. Fox-Pitt won the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials in September of 2008 with Ballincoola. He is in with two chances at this year’s Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, Navigator and Seacookie. If he wins here, he can complete the Grand Slam in two weeks time at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials held in the UK, May 7-10.
ENDS
For more information about the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, please visit: www.rk3de.org.
Please contact Joanie Morris at jmorris@usef.org with questions.