The hospitality tents are going up. The beyond challenging cross-country course is being laid out. And an international field of elite riders, trainers and horses are on their way to the Fair Hill Special Event Zone in Cecil County, Elkton, Md., for Year 3 of the Maryland 5 Star eventing competition.
From Oct. 19-22, the verdant hills and glorious fall foliage of Northeast Maryland will be the breathtaking backdrop for four days of world-class competition and what event organizers are touting as a yearly must-go, family-friendly experience.
“Putting together the inaugural event in 2021 was challenging enough, but to do it in the midst of a world pandemic was a true test for all concerned,” President of Sport & Entertainment Corporation, Terry Hasseltine said. “Now we are building on the success of the past two years and will feature not only an expanded field of CCI5 Star competitors but exciting and unique 5 Star amenities and activities for horse fans and families alike.”
With a title sponsor in world-renowned MARS Equestrian and a presenting sponsor in Brown Advisory, the event has grown dramatically in prestige and stature, according to Hasseltine. Like the Preakness in the spring, the Maryland 5 Star is one more opportunity to celebrate the Maryland horse industry and welcome the world to the state.
So what exactly is the Maryland 5 Star all about? The competition is known as “eventing,” an equestrian triathlon — or in other words, an ironman competition for horses that originated from a cavalry test. It’s referenced often as the ultimate test of horse and rider.
For the CCI competition, the first two days of the Maryland 5 Star are devoted to Dressage, a tandem display of agility and teamwork between horse and rider. On the third day, a challenging cross-country test of speed and endurance takes place. Then on the fourth day, the precision of horse and rider is tested against an equally challenging Show Jumping course made up of a series of delicate fences. Competitors accumulate penalty points throughout the three phases, and the pair with the lowest score takes home top honors.
At the 5 Star level, the jumps are the highest, the course the longest and the judging the toughest for four days. Spectators should expect to witness the highest levels of athleticism, technical precision and bravery.
Fans should also know that there are only seven competitions worldwide with the prestigious CCI5*-L or 5 Star designation: two in Great Britain, one each in France, Germany, Australia and Kentucky — and now for the third year and many more to come in Maryland.
The event is being held at the Fair Hill Special Event Zone, just 45 minutes from Baltimore. It features state-of-the-art equestrian arenas, a turf course and a cross-country course created exclusively to host equestrian events at the highest level. Famed cross-country course designer Ian Stark of Scotland has laid out a nearly 4-mile course with a variety of 40 to 45 obstacles and jumps.
And the prize money for the winner will be at a high level too. The Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill is a marquee event that offers $300,000 in prize money for the CCI5 Star portion of the competition.
The overall winner will take home $100,000. The remaining $200,000 will be divided among the next 19 highest scoring riders. A field of 80 to 85 horses and riders is expected.
“We’ve elevated the event experience to make it even more fan and family-friendly,” said Jeff Newman, the President and CEO of the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill. “So this will definitely be the place to be for four full days in October.”
Newman also wanted to give “huge credit” to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Ruppert Landscaping for its sensitivity and attention to detail in creating safe, ideal-for-competition footing in and around the arenas.
Along with the elite field of competitors, there will be an expanded Beer, Wine and Spirits Showcase on Saturday, Oct. 21. The Fresh Food Fest will be open on Sunday, Oct. 22. A long line of food trucks and an exclusive variety of retail vendors will be on hand throughout the event. A special Kids’ Zone featuring barnyard games, arts and crafts and plenty of hands on activities will be available all four days. And eventgoers who wish to spend a few days and nights in the Fair Hill area can check out the newly-opened Great Wolf Lodge resort nearby.
Event Director of the Maryland 5 Star and Director of Operations for the Sport Corp., Marissa Melzer made it clear that family-friendly means “super dog-friendly” as well.
“We welcome everyone to come out and enjoy the new Rescue Dog Parade, a new special event for 2023, on Sunday, along with the second annual Maryland Corgi Cup,” Melzer said. “Watching the fluffy corgis sprint down the track was a fan favorite in 2022! We are very appreciative of our partner, Major League Eventing, for leading the charge on that event.”
Ticket prices are also family-friendly. One-day general admission tickets start at $15. General Admission is free for Children under 10, when accompanied by an adult.
In addition to the CCI5 Star competition, the event will also host a CCI3 Star competition. The USEF CCI3 Star Eventing National Championship offers $25,000 in additional prize money. The USEA Young Event Horse East Coast Championship will also take place Thursday and Friday. All in, organizers expect upwards of 180 competitors across all three levels of competition (5 Star, 3 Star and YEH).
“Our goal is to make this a must-see, must-go event that people of all ages and interests will put on their calendars every year,” Newman said. “We’re looking at attendance of over 30,000 and an economic impact of over $12 million to the economy of Northeast Maryland. We are truly turning a 5 star event into a five-star experience.”
For more information and details about the schedule of events, ordering tickets, tailgating options and directions to the Fair Hill Special Event Zone, go to maryland5star.us.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Maryland 5 Star