Tips for best Rolex experience

[smay]

As far as grandstand seating, you cannot view dressage OR stadium competition without purchasing some kind of stadium seating, which is additional to your admission to Rolex at the “gate.” If you’ve never gone to Rolex before, that might be a surprise because in the old days, you could stand and watch both events from the fences or try to get a bleacher seat by getting there early.

Also, you can no longer camp in the Ky Horse Park campgrounds on a “whim” as all the campsites are booked completely on the day AFTER the current event is over! They take reservations 365 days in advance, and so that’s what everyone does. I think you can still get a primitive site ( no water/electric/etc) by getting there early with your tent or camper.

A little preparation for either blazing sun or pouring rains will make you more comfortable should either, or both, happen! One year we even had tornadoes!

[FineDesign08]

The campground was full like 2 weeks ago!

[DLee]

My traffic tip is use Georgetown Road to get to KHP on xc day, NOT Newtown Pike or I-75 (hope I don’t regret saying that, lol). I have never been stuck once on Georgetown Road, others can be horribly slow and you may miss rides.

My favorite place to hang out on xc day is actually the finish. I love seeing the horses and riders come in, the joy and smiles are great to see, the pit crews amazing to watch. :yes:

[asterix]

All good advice. If you are arriving Friday, wait until Sunday to shop – things go on super sale (ESPECIALLY Rolex gear. It will all be cheaper on Sunday). Th is also good to shop since no one is there yet.
Also if you arrive on Friday, totally worth it if you can to go do one of the sponsored course walks – like JW’s. lots of great info and you can scope out the lay of the land and make an attack plan for the next day

[vineyridge]

My number 1 is comfortable, well broken in shoes that are waterproof if possible. Second is raingear. My experience with Rolex is that it’s lots more likely to rain than be like last year which was an anomaly to my thinking. You had better plan for rain.

You will walk and walk and walk, so good shoes and socks are necessary. My feet were a mass of blisters after the first day last year, which was a real hinderance on XC day.

As to where to sit, I like section 210, which is by the in gate and you can also see the warm area from there.

If you can make the time, breakfast at Keeneland on Friday is one of the best things happening in Lexington during Rolex.

[CookiePony]

On Saturday, try your best to bring a picnic lunch unless you have access to a lunch in the Equestrian Club or Patron tents. The lines in the food court are terrible on XC day because everybody streams in from the course at the same time.

[wildlifer]

Yes, get reserved seats – Rolex is no longer peon friendly equal-opportunity event it used to be. Gone are the days when I could show up and spread a blanket next to the fence of the grass show jumping arena, sigh.

I actually prefer to watch just a few tests on dressage day and spend most of my time at the warm up rings. Far better pictures and much more interesting, IMO, than watching the same test a gazillion times.

If you plan on taking pictures, bring a long lens. I repeat, bring a LONG lens. Rolex without some kind of zoom lens will be lots of pictures of little speck horses. I like to pick different jumps on XC day and move around a lot. Of course, there are giant crowds at the water complexes as people seem to be magnetized by splashies, so don’t count on a good seat there unless you want to get there super early and camp out.

Bring a GOOD rain jacket and mudboots that are comfy to walk in.

[secretariat]

Excellent advice. Only thing I’d add is be prepared for a wide range of weather - I 've seen everything from sleet to 80oF sunshine. Kentucky weather in April is quite changeable - I’ve been colder there than ALMOST anywhere else!

Kentucky is not known for barbecue, not recommended. Hot browns are “state specialty.” Go to Texas for BBQ.

Georgetown is definitely the “unknown jewel” for Rolex. Lots of new hotels, friendliest little town in the world. You’ll love it, limited traffic, and only a few minutes from KHP - you’re going AGAINST traffic!

Tuppysmom - we’ll be rooting for you, hope you win the damned thing!! If you get time, we’d love for you to visit us at the farm on Coleman Lane - less than 3 miles west of KHP. Annual sales showcase is (I think) on Friday evening, but you’re welcome to stop in any time. One of our working students this year is another of your Idaho compatriots who had one of your old horses!

Howard

[tuppysmom]

Thanks Secretariat. We are going to give it a good try.

We try to arrive a few days early so the horse can have some bluegrass turn out before the competition begins. We stay at Bardstown until Monday and move to the KHP then. We usually have some free ish time on Tuesday. We would love to visit your farm!

The horse you have met came to our farm as a 2 week old orphan. He had been “put out in the street” by the big fancy barn in the valley. They just didn’t want the trouble, I guess. Anyway he did fine and has gone on to be a friend to several riders since.

[betsyk]

XC day is a lot more fun if you plan to walk a lot - don’t plan to park in any one place for very long. Start at the beginning and walk along the course, not necessarily stopping at every single jump but maybe finding a place to stand where you can watch a few people do a few in a row, so you get the feel of how the course flows. When there was the 3* and 4*, you had the luxury of sitting still for a while, but with fewer riders you don’t want to miss the end because you spent too much time at the beginning! You’ll be sitting still on Sunday for stadium so wear yourself out on Saturday!

[BoysNightOut]

I went in 2004 with my college roomie (we road-tripped from Morrisville, NY, haha). It was such a great time!

1. Bring sunscreen!

2. Wear comfortable walking shoes.

3. Bring a good camera.

4. Be on the watch-out for loose horses on X-Country…we saw a rider fall off, only to have the horse come running straight at us. Broke through the rope, and was close enough that I could have probably reached out and touched him as he ran by.

5. Bring water, and money!

Enjoy…we had a blast when we went…totally worth the 10 hour drive, lol.

[armyeventer]

Rolex

There are LOTS of beautiful things to see in Kentucky during Rolex. If you’re coming down soley to see the event, that’s fine. But if you have the opportunity to meander through the Bluegrass Scenic Driving Tour to see some of the farms, you’ll never regret it. Also, if you have the chance, visit one of the vet hospitals for a tour. I used to work at Rood and Riddle and went on the tour last year. I hadn’t been there in almost six years and the changes were amazing!!

As far as tips, I recommend the warm-up rings and start area. Watching the riders mentally prepare for each phase is inspiring. I also like the finish line for cross country and have gotten some of my favorite pictures there.

One more tip, for future reference: If you have the opportunity, look at volunteering. I don’t recommend it for your first trip, as you’ll be too busy taking it all in. But I’ve volunteered at Rolex for 8 years and enjoy it every time I do. (Plus you get nifty free stuff!)

Have fun!

[SandyUHC]

I hate you.

[SandyUHC]

Seriously.

Do what they all said and have a fabulous time while I’m stuck back here. Only other advice is that if you want to see a variety of jumps start at the end and walk backwards along the course so you don’t feel like you are racing horses to the next fence. Walk the course on Friday if they still let you do that. (I accidentally stumbled into a Team coursewalk one year – oops. Thanks for suggesting it while looking me directly in the eye, CMP, but no, I probably won’t take off from that spot for that brushjump in this lifetime.) If you want a Rolex hat go early. In fact, get me one while you are at it, I lost mine.

; - )

[Dawnd]

I was surprised how much I enjoyed watching the jog. I have the most stunning picture of WFP looking right at my camera, as if it was a personal portrait.

Bring good food for XC day. I was envious of this rather grand couple with a lovely picnic leisurely sprawled on their blanket looking refreshed while I felt dog tired, eating what wasn’t more palatable than a convenience store hamburger.

If I were to do it again, I would pull a Yogi Bear and steal their pic-a-nic basket!

[EvntDad]

Traffic is bad on XC day, so plan to arrive early. We went a couple of years ago, and thought we left plenty early…arrived at the freeway exit a little before 9am, rather got in line to take the exit…cars were lined up in every direction…took us over an hour to go the ~2 miles into the parking lot…didn’t get on-course until 10:30am and missed the first 30min of rides. Otherwise had a blast! Most of the fun is in moving around from jump to jump…and wear bright clothing so that you can see yourself later on the DVD (which I recommend buying because you’ll miss a lot)!

[Kairoshorses]

Ditto to what everyone said…comfy shoes, rain gear sunblock, sunglasses, hat. I also bring a smallish antibacterial liquid for after the portapotties!

I use a backpack rather than a purse; I can carry most of my stuff, and it’s not in the way.

And just a warning: if you buy lots of stuff at the trade fairs, you have to carry it back to your car! So shop close to leaving time. :lol:

Have FUN! I’ve blogged it every year since I started going–here are the blogs:

http://rolexreport.blogspot.com/
http://rolexreport06.blogspot.com/
http://rolexreport07.blogspot.com/
http://rolexreport08.blogspot.com/
http://rolexreport09.blogspot.com/

[clm08]

If you want the best seat at the Head of the Lake, plan to arrive by 7am! I did that 2 years ago to see Teddy go. He was the first horse on course. The advantage was no lines to get to KHP, could pick a very good parking spot, and plant our chairs at the best location to tape and photograph the horses at the Head of the Lake. Of course it is a long wait until the action starts, so bring something warm to drink, maybe a book, or whatever to help time pass. After we saw enough action at that spot, we moved around the course and spent some time in strategic locations where we could see several jumps at the same time.

As everyone else said, bring food for lunch, good comfy walking shoes that will keep your feet dry, a rain poncho, sunscreen, a hat, a light folding chair, camera and plenty of water. You may be cold, wet, warm, sunburned, all in the same day, but you will have a blast!

[vineyridge]

My favorite spot XC later in the day is near what used to be the Lexington bank. You’re close to the start and close to the finish. The new water is very enticing for viewing. There is also a hill where you can see most of the course with binoculars.

Has anyone mentioned how nice it is to have a small but powerful set of binoculars for all of the phases?

[NMK]

Area VIII has a bag drop that’s usually located right across from stadium entrance near the lake. It’s cheap and great if you want to shop and not tote everything around all day.
Plus it benefits the Adult and Young Riders Programs. That’s a win - win.

Keeneland is also open that weekend. It’s a grand old meet and if you’ve never been there I highly recommend a Friday afternoon jaunt.

Take orders from friends for Rolex gear, or buy gifts there–last year I bought a winter hat even though it was hot hot hot. I just found it the other day and it’s sweet, and I think it was $8! Merry Christmas to me!

Nancy

Th