Led by international standout Donner, a number of Thoroughbred ex-racehorses will contest North America’s most prestigious three-day event, the Land Rover Kentucky CCI four-star, beginning Thursday at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky. In three-day eventing, horse and rider teams compete in three distinct phases, with a score based on penalty points following them through the competition. The lowest score wins. A dressage test, set for either Thursday or Friday at Land Rover, demonstrates the communication and cooperation between horse and rider, and the balance, rhythm, and suppleness of the horse. Cross-country on Saturday, featuring solid obstacles and natural obstacles such as water over several miles of varied terrain, tests the horse’s courage and stamina. And stadium jumping on Sunday examines technical skills of the horse and rider, as well as providing a final fitness challenge at the end of the competition. High-level international events – indicated by the Concours Complet International rating given by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports – are rated on a basis of one to four stars. There are only a handful of four-star events worldwide – the Kentucky event the only one in North America – and merely finishing is considered a major accomplishment. :: Get breeding & sales news, Beyer info, and more delivered right to your email! Donner, who raced under the name Smart Gorky, competes with American rider Lynn Symansky. The New York-bred gelding, winless in six starts, arrived at her barn in 2008 as a resale project, but she has instead partnered with him for a decade as he has climbed the levels to become one of the most decorated American horses competing in eventing. Donner was part of the gold medal-winning U.S. team at the 2011 Pan American Games, was on the U.S. team at the 2014 World Equestrian Games, helped the U.S. win the Nations Cup at the 2017 Great Meadow International, and last year was named the Equiratings Horse of the Year. He will be making his fourth trip to the Kentucky event, with his best finish his debut outing in 2013. That year he was fifth and was the highest-placed Thoroughbred. Donner and Symansky were 12th in 2015 and 17th in 2016. Donner is by Gorky Park, who raced in hurdle and steeplechase races in Europe before coming to the U.S. to win the 1991 Continental Cup Steeplechase Handicap for Jonathan Sheppard. Another Thoroughbred taking yet another shot at the Kentucky event is Kelecyn Cognac, who has been entered for a third time by Canadian Waylon Roberts. The pair was forced to withdraw a week ahead of the event in 2016, and last year was a late scratch after a bout of shipping fever. Kelecyn Cognac, an Australian-born son of Fusaichi Pegasus, was winless while racing as Heir Pegasus. He comes into the Kentucky event on a roll, as he won the advanced division at the Red Hills event two outings back, then placed 13th at the Carolina International CIC three-star. Three Thoroughbreds who were winners on the track are slated to compete at the Land Rover: A.P. Prime under Leah Lang-Glusic of the U.S.; More Inspiration and Holly Jacks-Smither of Canada; and Steady Eddie (registered as Big Jet) with Boyd Martin. Entered Thoroughbreds who went winless on the track are Captain Jack (registered as Captain Frank) with Savannah Fulton of the U.S.; Johnny Royale (registered as Chivas Royale) and Joe Meyer of New Zealand; Simply Priceless (registered as Kalinga Damo) and Elisa Wallace of the U.S.; Sound Prospect and Allie Knowles of the U.S.; Tactical Maneuver (registered as Shykee’s Thunder) and Ashley Johnson of the U.S.; and Tight Lines and Will Coleman of the U.S. Four unraced Thoroughbreds are also expected in Indy 500 (registered as My Gifted Indyanna) with Andrea Baxter of the U.S.; Mettraise (registered as Metraisse) and Paddy the Caddy, both with Erin Sylvester of the U.S.; and Truly Wiley with Kelly Prather. Mettraise finished 14th at the event to be its highest-placed Thoroughbred last year, and was closest to optimum time on the cross country phase. The favored pair at Land Rover is Germany’s multiple Olympic gold medalist Michael Jung and his German Sport Horse mare fischerRoscana FST, who has won this event in four consecutive years.