Zara Tindall (nee Phillips), a member of the British royal family, presented her horse Class Affair Wednesday, April 26, 2023 for inspection before Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky. Tindall, the niece of King Charles and the oldest granddaughter of the late Queen Elizabeth II, is one of the top eventing riders in the world.
Silas Walker
swalker@herald-leader.com
A week before the coronation of King Charles in London, what is his niece doing in Kentucky?
Riding a horse, of course.
Zara Tindall (nee Phillips), a member of the British royal family as the oldest granddaughter of the late Queen Elizabeth II, also is one of the top eventing riders in the world.
With the May 6 coronation of her uncle at Westminster Abbey also falling on the same weekend as the annual Badminton Horse Trials, Tindall decided to bring her horse, Class Affair, to the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. She’s also drawing eyes to the Bluegrass: “People” and “Town & Country” magazines are covering her participation.
She presented Class Affair for inspection on Wednesday is scheduled to ride her dressage test Thursday afternoon.
Tindall previously competed in Kentucky in 2017 and finished third.
At front Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Charles, with, back row from left, Viscount Linley, Mike Tindall, Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips attend the National Service of Thanksgiving held at St Paul’s Cathedral as part of celebrations marking the Platinum Jubilee of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, in London, Friday, June 3, 2022. Tindall (nee Phillips), niece of Charles, will compete in this weekend’s Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. Aaron Chown AP
Zara Tindall (nee Phillips), a member of the British royal family, presented her horse Class Affair Wednesday, April 26, 2023 for inspection before Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky. Tindall, the niece of King Charles and the oldest granddaughter of the late Queen Elizabeth II, is one of the top eventing riders in the world. Silas Walker swalker@herald-leader.com
The popular annual three-day event has drawn a field of 46 in the top-level 5-star event, including reigning world champion Yasmin Ingham of Great Britain, who finished second at Kentucky last year. Another 54 horse and rider combinations are scheduled to for the 4-star competition.
Zara Tindall (GBR) and High Kingdom were third overall in the 2017 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover. (Michelle Dunn/Rolex)
At far right, Zara Tindall (nee Phillips), niece of King Charles, celebrates her 2017 third place finish in the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover. Michelle Dunn Rolex
Prince Harry, center, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, left, and Zara Tindall depart after attending a service of thanksgiving for the reign of Queen Elizabeth II at St Paul’s Cathedral in London Friday June 3, 2022. Tindall, a member of the British royal family, will be in Lexington competing the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event. Henry Nicholls AP
Dressage takes place on Thursday and Friday, with the fan-favorite cross-country competition on Saturday and the stadium jumping final on Sunday.
Janet Patton covers restaurants, bars, food and bourbon for the Herald-Leader. She is an award-winning business reporter who also has covered agriculture, gambling, horses and hemp.Support my work with a digital subscription
Get one year of unlimited digital access for $159.99
