Televised coverage will be available to 77 million American homes on May 7, 4:30-5:30 pm eastern time on ESPN. This marks the first time that this exciting event has been on ESPN for American viewers. Last year, it was shown on ESPN2.

International ESPN networks airing the competition include ESPN Latin America, which reaches more than 12 million homes in 41 countries and territories; ESPN Atlantic which is available to almost 1 million homes in 60 countries in the Middle East and Africa; and ESPN Pacific Rim, which reaches 13 countries and 600,000 households.

The ESPN coverage will be produced by HSTV, which handled the telecast in 1999. This year, the featured color commentators are Tim Singer and U.S. Equestrian Team (USET) Olympic veteran Jim Wofford. Home videos of the event will be available for sale. Orders will be taken on site during the event or through Equestrian Events, Inc., producer of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event.

Also broadcasting the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event is Eurosport, which reaches over 85 million homes in 47 countries in Europe and broadcasts in 17 languages. This marks the first time that Eurosport is airing a three-day event other than the Olympic Games.

"We're thrilled that the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, Presented by Bayer, will be available to a world-wide television audience," said Jane Atkinson, Executive Vice President of Equestrian Events, Inc. "The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event is an exciting competition that deserves to be seen around the globe." Along with the television coverage, more than 60,000 spectators are expected to attend the event over the four days of the competition.

The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event takes place at the scenic Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, and hosts the Rolex/U.S. Equestrian Team Four Star Championship. It is also the only Olympic-level domestic Selection Trial for the USET's Olympic Eventing Squad. As an added bonus for the riders, the $250,000 Grand Slam of Eventing will be awarded to anyone who wins the Rolex Kentucky, Badminton and Burghley four star events in succession. Mark Todd of New Zealand won the Burghley Event last September and has entered Kentucky to vie for the second leg of the Grand Slam.

The sport of Eventing evolved from cavalry competitions around the world used to test the training and fitness of cavalry mounts. The competition consists of three distinct elements: dressage, cross-country, and show jumping. The horse-and-rider combination with the lowest combined score from the three tests is the winner.

Stars are used by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), the world's governing body of equestrian sports, to denote the level of Eventing competitions. Four star events are open only to experienced horses and riders at the international level.

Four star events, the most challenging level of the sport, are held at just four venues each year plus the Olympic Games and World Championships held every four years. Of the four annual four star events, only one, the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, takes place in the U.S. The other annual events are at the Badminton Horse Trials and the Burghley Horse Trials in Great Britain, and at Adelaide in Australia.

Along with the exciting equestrian action, there is an International Trade Fair with more than 125 merchants, dog agility competition, and a variety of other fun family activities and entertaining attractions. Merchandise available at the Trade Fair includes designer clothing, artwork, gifts, sport clothing, horse-related items, event souvenir items and much more.

For more information on the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, please call Equestrian Events, Inc. at (606) 233-2362 or go to The Official Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event Website on the Internet.

NETWORK                 BROADCAST - DATE & TIME

ESPN USA                May 7 - 4:30-5:30 pm U.S. EDT

Eurosport               T.B.A. - 2:30-3:30 pm CET 

                        (Central European Time)

ESPN Latin America      May 18 - 5:30-6:30 pm U.S. EDT

                        May 22 - 1:30-2:30 pm U.S. EDT

ESPN Atlantic           May 9 - 5:00-6:00 pm 

                        (11:00 am-12:00 pm U.S. EDT)

(Middle East, Africa)   May 11 - 10:00-11:00 am 

                        (4:00-5:00 am U.S. EDT)

                        May 22 - 5:00-6:00 am 

                        (May 21 11:00 pm-12:00 am U.S. EDT)

ESPN Pacific Rim        May 14 - 11:00 am - 12:00 pm 

                        (May 13 11:00 pm-12:00 am U.S. EDT)

(Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Oceania)