Vale flies to win the $75,000 CSI5* 1.50m Welcome Grand Prix Qualifier for the Kentucky International CSI5* presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute
Lexington, Ky., April 24, 2025— Fifty-four horses came forward Thursday evening for the $75,000 CSI5* 1.50m Welcome Grand Prix Qualifier for the Kentucky International CSI5* presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. When all was said and done, the USA’s Aaron Vale rose to the top of the 11-horse jump-off to take the win in 35.09 seconds aboard Gray’s Inn. Ireland’s Darragh Kenny was second with Eddy Blue (0/0/36.71), and the USA’s Alex Matz was third with Ikigai (0/0/36.83).
The Kentucky International CSI5* is hosted as part of the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ (K3DE). Produced by Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI), a non-profit, charitable organization that supports the development of equestrian sports by staging sporting events at the highest level, the K3DE features one of only seven annual 5* three-day events in the world. Known as “The Best Weekend All Year,” the event annually attracts nearly 90,000 spectators who also enjoy extensive shopping, a variety of hospitality experiences and a wide array of demonstrations. In addition to the traditional CCI5*-L and the Kentucky International CSI5* show jumping event, the K3DE also features the Cosequin ® Lexington 4*, a US Equestrian Open Eventing Series Qualifier.
Aaron Vale (USA) and Gray’s Inn won Thursday’s $75,000 CSI5* Grand Prix Qualifier for the Kentucky International CSI5* presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute © Winslow Photography LLC
Vale is known to be a speedy rider, and his experience showed when he cut more than 1.6 seconds off Kenny’s time. “I got from [fence] one to two in nine [strides], which most of the fast ones did. Then I made a real effort to stay extra wide in the six [strides] from [fences] two to three, and I put a big curve in it. I could see I was inside everybody else’s tracks; I was in fresh dirt there,” a breathless Vale said after his win. “Not only was I tighter around, but then I found a forward distance to the oxer, so I knew if stayed on the strides coming home, he’d be
quick enough.”
Vale was especially excited to take the win on a horse that’s been in the family for quite some time; the horse is owned and trained by his wife, Mallory. “We’ve had him since he was a 4-year-old, and my wife’s done 90% of the work on him,” he said of the 11-year-old gray Warmblood. “So to have one like him since he shipped in from Slovakia, it’s just fun.”
Darragh Kenny (IRL) and Eddy Blue flew to second place in the $75,000 Kentucky International CSI5* Grand Prix Qualifier © Winslow Photography LLC
Clean rounds were hard to come by in the initial course designed by Guilherme Jorge, with time faults breaking as many hearts as jumping faults. Fourteen horses qualified for the jump-off, but three American entries (Laura Kraut/Bisquetta, Kent Farrington/Greya, and Charlotte Jacobs/Playboy JT Z) elected not to return, preferring to save themselves for Saturday’s $400,000 Kentucky International CSI5* Grand Prix.
Thursday’s $75,000 1.50m Welcome was the qualifier for Saturday’s $400,000 1.60m Grand Prix, with the top 40 in this class moving on. Additionally, three riders — 2024 Olympic champion Christian Kukuk (GER), 2023 Pan American individual silver medalist Kent Farrington (USA) and 2023 Pan American individual bronze medalist McLain Ward (USA) — prequalified for Saturday’s Grand Prix based on their medal-winning performances in the most recent Olympic and Pan American Games.
Alex Matz (USA) and Ikigai had a strong showing under the lights to place third © Winslow Photography LLC
The CSI5* competition also continues Friday with the $35,000 1.45m Speed Cup, which takesplace in the evening following the conclusion of the K3DE’s dressage testing. Full results for Thursday’s Grand Prix Qualifier can be found here.
Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian
The Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event (K3DE) is a thrilling multi-day competition featuring Olympic-level riders and horses in what can best be described as an equestrian triathlon. Horse and rider pairs compete in three phases of the competition – Dressage, Cross-Country and Show Jumping –for $400,000 in prize money to those competing at the CCI5*-L level. K3DE is the largest and longest-running Five Star event in the Americas and as the United States’ premier event, it also serves as the Defender/USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Championship presented by MARS Equestrian™ for the U.S. athletes. Rolex is the Official Timepiece and Event Partner.
Cosequin ® Lexington CCI4*-S
Introduced in 2021, the Cosequin ® Lexington 4*-S runs concurrently with the CCI5*-L competition, featuring the three phases of eventing – dressage, cross country and show jumping. The Cosequin ® Lexington 4*-S is a US Equestrian Open Eventing Series Qualifier and offers $50,000 prize money. Tickets for viewing the Cosequin ® Lexington 4*-S are included when purchasing the K3DE tickets.
Kentucky International CSI5* presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute
Formerly known as the Kentucky Invitational, the Kentucky International made its debut at the 2018 Kentucky Three-Day Event as a CSI3* and was held as a CSI4* for the first time in 2024. As a CSI5* in 2025, the international show jumping event will make EEI the only event organizer in the world to host both a CCI5*-L and CSI5* in the same week. More information on the Kentucky International CSI5* presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute can be found at https://www.kentuckythreedayevent.com/the-kentucky-international-csi5.
Livestream and TV broadcasts
All competitions held as part of the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ – the CCI5*, Cosequin ® Lexington CCI4*, and Kentucky International CSI5* presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute – can be watched live on USEF Network powered by ClipMyHorse.TV. The link is also available through the event website at www.kentuckythreedayevent.com. The livestream is available free of charge worldwide to USEF fans and members. Anyone can become a fan and watch the event free by registering as a “Fan” at www.usef.org/fan. ClipMyHorseTV premium subscribers can also watch the event. All phases of the CCI5* (dressage, cross country and jumping) will also be shown live on ESPN3. US Equestrian and ESPN have teamed up to broadcast the Kentucky International CSI5* presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute on ESPNews on Sunday, May 4, 11:00 am-1:00
pm ET and the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ on Saturday, May 3, 10:00 am-12:00 pm on ESPNews. It will also be shown on ESPN2 on Sunday, May 4 at 8:00-10:00 am and again at 8:00-10:00 pm. All times are eastern. Further information about the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™, the Cosequin® Lexington 4*, and the Kentucky International CSI5* presented by
Hagyard Equine Medical Institute is available at https://www.kentuckythreedayevent.com/.
About Equestrian Events, Inc.
Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI) is a non-profit charitable Kentucky corporation that was established initially to produce the 1978 World Three-Day Event Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park. Following the success of those championships, EEI established an annual event that evolved into the world-renowned Kentucky Three-Day Event, which draws nearly 90,000 spectators to the Kentucky Horse Park each year. EEI added the Kentucky CSI
Invitational Grand Prix in 2018, which upgraded to the Kentucky International CSI5* for 2025, the Lexington CCI4*-S in 2021, and also produces other events. EEI is also hosting the United States Eventing Association (USEA) American Eventing Championships in 2026-2028. EEI supports several local and equine charities and over the last 20 years has donated more than $1.1 million to various charities. For more information, please visit www.eq-events.com.
