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Kentucky goldrush
Fresh off the plane from Lexington, our WEG competition winner, Lucy Jones, opens up her diary to share memories of a triumphant occasion for the British team as well as a memorable trip across the pond, courtesy of EHOA sponsor Incentevents:
Sunday 26 Sept
A very long day: we leave Heathrow at 6am, arriving the Hyatt Hotel Lexington at 7.30pm USA time for a ‘meet and greet’ hot buffet supper. Finally to bed at 3am UK time.
Monday 27 Sept
Rest and recovery: we eat a big breakfast and sort out ‘base camp’, our huge bedroom with two double beds. A visit to the Lexington Equine Event within the hotel complex shows off 300 vendors and live demos. Try the Kentucky bourbon (80 per cent proof) ahead of tomorrow.
Tuesday 28 Sept
Bluegrass tour: visit the Darby Dan Stud where legendary sire Roberto lies. Stud fees are as much as $350,000 and stallions cover 100-120 mares – there is no AI in Kentucky and all are NFNF (no foal no fee). Next stop is a racehorse retirement home, resting place of Seabiscuit, then on to the Bourbon distillery Buffalo Trace.
The son of the now 94-year-old owner, who has rolled out his 6,000th barrel, gives the tour. Three things differentiate Bourbon from other Whiskeys: (1) You cannot add any colours, (2) It uses only corn, (3) The same barrel is never used twice. After we learn about barrel storage, bottling, labeling and packing, a small amount of tasting just has to be done – shop sales are high!
Afterwards, we drive through the Dan Marie Stud, some 600 acres taking in circular dirt and grass gallops, 2/3 large guest houses, lakes, ponds, waterfalls, all privately owned. The horses here are bred purely for racing.
Wednesday 29 Sept
A very hot day. We leave the hotel at 7.30am in our private bus for trot-up – we’re told that security is tight, so no food or drink is allowed in. I know for sure that several bananas are secreted about various persons.
Trot-up very impressive from the Brits. Definitely the best dressed! Mum and I walk the course and meet William out for a ‘hack’ looking in fine form. Get to fence 7 and follow Pippa for the rest; notice her angles and strides. At fence 17/18, water, we watch Nicholson and Toddy splash through with a measuring stick.
Thursday 30 Sept
Bus leaves 7.30am on another very hot day. We watch Nicola’s test and then have a group course walk with Richard Waygood: good fun as most of the group attend. Now into the stands for William and Pippa’s tests – seats are getting too hot to sit in, so we move to the covered area. What a fantastic start in the dressage for our guys.
Friday 1 Oct
Dressage starts 8.30am. Tina’s test is amazing and, oh boy, the Brits make some noise! We walk down to the equine village – demos, singers, pony rides – but are glad of a quick escape back to watch Mary. A disappointing mark but, again, loads of noise and flag waving. Micheal Yung goes into the lead after an incredible test of 33.
Enjoy a very good evening meal, with live guitar music, in a small restaurant two miles from our hotel.
Saturday 2 Oct
Cross-country day: roads busy and we’re dropped off at the water entrance. We walk to fence 14 on the top of the hill, finding loads of space, loos, concessions and a big screen that makes it a perfect setting. The screen coverage is fantastic.
Here the Germans join us in force, but we hold our ground, make more noise, wave bigger flags – and have more luck! What a fabulous day for Team GB.
Sun 3 Oct
Bus at 8am – Brits very impressive in the trot-up again. Speak to William and team and everyone seems very upbeat before the show jumping. We have fantastic grandstand seats in front of the podium – and what a cliffhanger it is, all the way down to the wire. Apart from Yung, we are the best, without doubt. With tension mounting and flags waving, the Brits get noisier as the afternoon goes on.
Later, we celebrate in style on the Chase Bank’s 15th floor with panoramic views, Champagne, scallops and steak, all organised and part-paid for by our ‘leader’, Ian Dennis of Incentevents.
I don’t think it gets any better than this. All our thanks go to the EHOA and Incentevents for making it possible – and, of course, to Team GB for bringing home team gold.
Thank you all!
Lucy Jones and mum Barbara
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