Special Amenities in Place to Maximize Athlete and Horse Experience for fourth annual event
Fair Hill, Maryland – The fourth annual MARS Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill presented by Brown Advisory is pleased to provide “5 Star” treatment to the athletes and horses competing in this year’s event. Special amenities are being provided by many new and returning Event Partners, ensuring the best experience possible for all competitors.
The MARS Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill presented by Brown Advisory, one of only two 5 Star level equestrian events of its kind in the United States and just the seventh worldwide, returns to the Fair Hill Special Event Zone in Cecil County, MD for the fourth annual event, October 17-20.
This world-class Eventing showcase returned last year with thrilling results, welcoming nearly 30,000 spectators. The upcoming 2024 event features two of the top five riders in in the current FEI World Rankings and four of the top 10 with 2024 Olympian and World No. 3 Tim Price (2022 Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill Winner and placing 2nd at the Burghley Horse Trials), , World No. 5 Oliver Townend (winner of the 2024 Kentucky Three Day event), 2024 Olympian and World No. 6 Boyd Martin (winner of the inaugural Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill in 2021), and World No. 8 Harry Meade (placing an incredible 3rd, 4th and 12th place at the 2024 Burghley Horse Trials) joining an elite list of 23 entries in the 5 Star field. The event’s prestigious 5 Star (CCI5*-L) designation is the pinnacle of the sport of Eventing, often described as an equestrian triathlon.
In addition to the 5 Star competition, the event also features a 3 Star competition (CCI3*-L) boasting an impressive 55 entries heading into the event, as well as The Dutta Corp. USEA Young Event Horse East Coast Championships presented by Dubarry of Ireland (4 and 5 year-old horses) with 72 total entries. The four days of 3 Star and 5 Star Eventing competition feature Dressage (Thu-Fri), Cross-Country (Sat) showcasing Ian Stark-designed courses, and Show Jumping (Sun).
The 2024 edition will offer a number of amenities to athletes thanks to many of the event’s sponsors. The event will once again offer total prize money of $325,000 (USD), $300,000 towards the CCI5*-L, and $25,000 for the CCI3*-L event with the first-place finisher of the 5 Star competition taking home $100,000.
Other Event offerings include the following from Event Partners:
MARS EQUESTRIAN™ – Equine Veterinary Health Center – Supported by ten boarded equine veterinary specialists, including two large animal anesthesiologists and staff from Penn Vet’s New Bolton Center, and powered by Mars, Incorporated’s featured brands ANTECH™ and SOUND®. Together they will be offering advanced diagnostic services and imaging, along with a variety of other Penn Vet services including cardiology, emergency and critical care and on-course anesthesiologists in rovers to be utilized at the discretion of the FEI veterinarians. A full imaging suite, featuring Sound’s Digital Radiography and GE ultrasound, will be available to the veterinary team and all international and domestic competitor teams.
Brown Advisory – The Presenting Sponsor of the Event will be providing backpacks to all athletes as welcome gifts.
Select Event Group – The Official Event Rental Company (Tents, Structures and Flooring provider) will be providing an Athlete and Owner Chalet, as well as supplementary ring-side athlete seating, adjacent to the Main Arena offering a front row view of the action.
YANMAR – Returning as a 5 Star level sponsor of the Event and new for this year as the Official provider of tractors to service and maintain the Event’s competition arenas to go along with the continued designation as the Official UTV provider of the Event.
Quarry View Building Group – The Official & Exclusive Design and Construction Partner of Timber Frame Structures, Custom Accessory Buildings, Equestrian Facilities and Event Venues will be entitling the Owners’ Hospitality and amenities throughout the Cross-Country Phase held in the Sawmill Waterfront Club, along with the return of their custom-built dressage judges’ huts. Furthermore, Quarry View Building Group will serve as the host of the Athlete & Owner Welcome Reception on Wednesday after the horse inspections.
LeMieux – Joining the Event as a new 5 Star Level sponsor, LeMieux holds several official designations, including the host sponsor of the Athlete Lounge and the provider of the Official Awards Cooler’s for the winning horses in both the 3 Star and 5 Star divisions.
Armstrong – The Official High Speed Internet provider of the Event along with fiber installation projects to the venue to increase the range and reliability of internet and wi-fi service for the entire Event.
Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) – The Official Equine Insurance Provider is serving as host to the Athlete and Owner Chalet adjacent to the Main Arena and amenities offered along with supporting the MD5Star Radio provided by Taylor Harris Insurance Services where attendees can listen to a play-by-play competition commentary for the 3* and 5*.
Attwood Equestrian Surfaces – The Official Manufacturer and Installer of Equestrian Footing has reviewed and prepared the surface they installed in the competition arenas, ensuring the athletes have the very best surface to enhance their safety and performance. In addition, they will maintain the footing throughout the competition.
Dubarry of Ireland – The Official Presenting Sponsor of Wednesday’s Jog will present “The Best Presented” 5* rider following the first horse inspection/jog at the Owner & Rider Welcome Reception on Wednesday evening. Dubarry of Ireland also serves as the presenting sponsor of the USEA Young Event Horse East Coast Championships competition.
Mane ‘n Tail / Straight Arrow Products – The Groom of the Winning Horse in the 5 star and 3 Star competition will receive a prize package, including an array of branded products. They will also provide their product at the Mane ‘n Tail Stable Wash Racks to be used by the Grooms.
Fair Hill Saddlery – As the Official Stabling Vendor, Fair Hill Saddlery will have an array of must-have equipment and supplies for sale to the athletes during the Event.
Great Wolf Lodge, Perryville – Athletes can secure reduced rates through the Event organizers and Official Host Resort along with complimentary parking and Wi-Fi.
Ruppert Landscape – Year-round footing maintenance company for the 3 Star and 5 Star Cross Country courses “Cross Country maintained by Ruppert Landscape”.
Brook Ledge Horse Transportation – The Official Ground Transport Partner will be providing complimentary ground transport for horses arrive via flights organized by The Dutta Corp referenced below.
The Dutta Corp. – Starting with overseas travel to Fair Hill, the event’s Official Air Transport Partner will be assisting athletes with organizing round-trip flights with discounted bookings for their horses along with facilitating all quarantine requirements and more.
Guardian Horse Bedding – The Official Horse Bedding Provider will be offering the highest quality of shavings complimentary to the athletes for each of their horses.
Hippo Data – This world-renowned timing, scoring, data integration, live scoring and graphics company will handle all aforementioned competition needs.
LifeBridge Health Sports Medicine Institute – a Maryland based Sports Medicine practice specializing in the treatment of injuries to athletes of all levels will also be present. Dr. Erica Gaertner a Maryland native, who was a professional equestrian prior to beginning her medical career will be on the grounds to assess rider injuries and answer any sports medicine questions.
ATI Physical Therapy –will host a Physical Therapy and Recovery Center based in the athlete and stabling compound staffed with Certified Physical Therapists for warm-up, injury and recovery treatment needs. ATI Physical Therapy is a leading therapy and sports medicine company committed to helping people live more active lives. With over 900 locations across the country, ATI has all the resources of a large company: research-based treatments, cutting edge equipment and remarkable clinical outcomes. What really sets ATI apart is its small clinic, family-like atmosphere and friendly, motivating team. ATI’s mission is to Make Every Life An Active Life. Whether in the arena or on everyday adventures, ATI Physical Therapy keeps you performing at your best.
FEI Stabling – All 5 Star and 3 Star horses will experience the “new standard in temporary stabling” on site. Stables will be 10’ by 14’ with a 12’ aisle and a Clearspan® Roof.
CrossCountry App – is the official cross country mapping provider of the event, supplying informative and accurate information about the 5 Star, 3 Star and YEH courses.
YETI – YETI is a new addition to the Event sponsor roster and will be providing its ultra-durable Yonder™ Water Bottles as a complimentary gift to the athletes for a sustainable, refillable hydration solution.
Shapley’s Superior Equine Grooming Products – Shapley’s will present the “Best Turned Out” award to the Groom of one 5 Star and one 3 Star horse on Sunday of the Event. Additional prize buckets, inclusive of its superior equine grooming products, will be presented to top finishers in the 5 Star and 3 Star competitions.
Flair LLC / Achieve Equine – Achieve Equine will provide complimentary event branded FLAIR® Equine Nasal Strips for all 5 Star, 3 Star and YEH horses.
The Classic Catering People – The Official Caterer of the Event will provide complimentary continental breakfast, hot lunches and refreshments for athletes and grooms in the Athlete Lounge.
We would like to thank Fair Hill International, the Competition & Volunteer Support partner of the Event.
Additional amenities and support provided by: Irish Horse Board, Long Fence, NABS Creative, Flowers & Fancies, Cross Country App, Bob & Kay Wilmarth and Cecil College.
Finally, the MARS Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill presented by Brown Advisory would like to extend a sincere thank you to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the venue owner and operator of the Fair Hill Special Event Zone, a division of the Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area, Cecil County, the Host Location and Sponsor of the Event, the state of Maryland and the Maryland Sports Commission.