Statewide public TV network will offer live and recorded coverage of international equestrian competition October 17 through 20
OWINGS MILLS, MD – Maryland Public Television (MPT) will serve for the fourth year as the official regional broadcaster and livestream provider of the 2024 MARS Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill presented by Brown Advisory, one of only two 5 Star level equestrian events in the sport of Eventing in the United States and among seven worldwide.
The statewide public TV network, in partnership with The Fair Hill Organizing Committee, will offer viewers more than nine hours of live coverage during the four-day event on MPT-HD, the MPT live stream and the PBS app. An event preview is available on MPT’s YouTube channel.
This year’s competition, October 17-20, takes place again at the Fair Hill Special Event Zone in Cecil County, Maryland. The facility features world-class equestrian arenas, a turf track, and cross-country courses. Expected to participate in this year’s MARS Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill are top horses and riders from the United States and countries around the world, including those who competed in the recent Paris Olympics.
The prestigious 5 Star (CCI5*-L) designation is the pinnacle of the Olympic sport of Eventing; the ultimate test of horse and rider. Eventing combines the skills of a single horse and rider in competition against other horses and riders across the three disciplines of dressage, cross-country, and show jumping. It is one of the few sports where men and women compete alongside one another as equals, up through the Olympic-level.
MPT’s schedule of coverage (subject to change) during the four-day competition is as follows:
Thursday, Oct. 17: Live coverage of dressage from 2 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 18: Live coverage of dressage from 2 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 19: Live coverage of cross-country from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. and an encore broadcast from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 20: Live coverage of show jumping and awards ceremony from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and an encore broadcast from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
On Sunday, MPT begins its Maryland 5 Star coverage at 1:30 p.m. with a half-hour pre-competition show featuring Jim Hunter anchoring the MPT Sports Desk live from Fair Hill. Hunter will be joined by Lucinda Green, considered one of the top Eventing riders of all time. Green, fresh off commentating at the Paris Olympics, is a World and double European Champion, British Olympic team silver medalist, and record six-time Badminton winner.
A half-hour preview show, MPT Sports Desk: Maryland 5 Star 2024, will air on MPT-HD on Monday, October 14 at 7:30 p.m. Anchor Jim Hunter will interview Terry Hasseltine, executive director, Maryland Sports Commission; Jeff Newman, president and CEO, Maryland 5 Star; Tyson Rementer, builder of the cross-country course; and Savannah Fulton, a world-class equestrian athlete. Viewers will learn about elements of the four-day competition, as well as activities and attractions at the event site. These include the Kids’ Corner, featuring a petting zoo, interactive games, and other family-friendly activities, and the 3rd annual Maryland Corgi Cup, a race featuring some 100 corgis, on Sunday, October 20.
General admission and reserved seating tickets to one or more competition days can be purchased at Maryland5Star.us/tickets.
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About Maryland Public Television
Maryland Public Television (MPT) is a statewide, public-supported TV network and Public Broadcasting Service member offering entertaining, educational, and inspiring content delivered by traditional broadcasting and streaming on TVs, computers, and mobile devices. A state agency, it operates under the auspices of the Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission. MPT creates and distributes local, regional, and national content and is a frequent winner of regional Emmy® awards. MPT’s commitment to educators, parents, caregivers, and learners of all ages is delivered through instructional events and Thinkport.org. MPT’s year-round community engagement activities connect viewers with resources on a wide range of topics. For more information visit mpt.org.