October 2025 Issue

EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN October 2025 10 Photo credit: Shannon Brinkman Photo credit: Shannon Brinkman Location: Fair Hill Special Event Zone, located at the Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area 4600 Telegraph Rd, Elkton, MD 21921 Admission: With the purchase of any type of ticket, you will have access to all of the spectator areas within the Event grounds. Enjoy watching the 3 Star and 5 Star competition going on in the Main Arena venture down to spectate the USEA Young Event Horse East Coast Championships (Thursday and Friday only) or explore our thrilling cross-country course (Saturday). Don’t forget to peruse all of the retail shopping areas, enjoy our variety of interactive fan experiences, and sample the delicious bites and beverages around the venue. For General Admission ticket buyers, seating in the North Aintree Grandstand is available on a first-come basis and is not covered. For General Admission and Reserved Seat buyers, parking is free in the General Parking lot. Complimentary shuttles will be available fromGeneral Parking to the Box Office/Main Entrance area Thursday through Sunday as well as running around the perimeter of the venue with various drop- off points on Saturday for Cross Country. General Admission is free for children ages 10 and under when accompanied by a paid adult. General Admission is available as single day tickets and at a group rate when purchasing six (6) or more at once. Tickets can be purchased either online or in person at the Box Office, located next to the Main Entrance. Single Day General Admission (GA) Ticket Pricing Advance* Event Box Office Thursday $18 $25 Friday $18 $25 Saturday $40 $45 Sunday $30 $35 *Includes all fees The Competition: A 5 Star event (CCI5*-L) is the pinnacle of the sport of eventing. It consists of the most advanced form of competition as it pertains to the skill level executed in the field of dressage, as well as, tougher terrain and obstacles in both cross-country and stadium jumping. There are only seven 5 Star events in the world, with two being in the United States. The CCI5* event takes place over four days. The first two days of competition taking place on Thursday and Friday will feature dressage tests completed in the main arena. The third day of competition on Saturday is the cross-country test, where riders jump up to 45 obstacles over almost 4 miles of varying terrain. The final day of competition on Sunday is show jumping, where riders jump over fragile obstacles in the main arena. In addition to hosting a CCI5*-L competition, the event also hosts a CCI3*-L competition featuring many more of the best athletes and horses from around the world, as well as The Dutta Corp. USEA Young Event Horse East Coast Championships presented by Dubarry of Ireland (Thursday and Friday only). The USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) program is best described as an eventing talent search. The program’s goal is to identify young horses that possess the talent and disposition to excel at the upper levels of the sport. During the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill, a championship division is offered for both four and five-year-old horses to be judged on dressage, conformation and jumping ability. Opening Times: Gates open one (1) hour prior to the start of competition on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and two (2) hours prior to the start of competition on Sunday to allow for viewing of the Final Horse Inspection if desired. The majority of Retail Vendors and food concessionaires will not open until the start of competition. Hospitality areas will open thirty (30) minutes prior to the start of competition. Competition Start Time Schedule (Tentative): • Thursday – 9:00 AM • Friday – 9:00 AM • Saturday – 9:00 AM • Sunday – 10:00 AM *Competition times and schedules are subject to change by Event Organizers at any time. **It is strongly suggested that spectators leave for the competition grounds early in anticipation of traffic and to allow time for parking and shuttling. Recommended/Appropriate Attire: Eventing is a sport that takes place outdoors, rain or shine. Dress for the weather but anticipate fluctuations in temperature and conditions. Layers are strongly suggested! Be sure to wear comfortable, weather-proof footwear for all days, particularly Saturday’s Cross Country competition. Please note that there is varying terrain throughout the venue, and it is recommended to wear sensible shoes for such conditions. Lost & Found: Lost personal items can be turned into and collected at the Information Booth or other designated area as listed at the venue during the event. October 16-19 ★ FAST FACTS ★ maryland5star.us Photo courtesy of Shannon Brinkman.