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MARS EQUESTRIAN™ Returns as Presenting Sponsor of 2025 Defender Kentucky Three

MARS Sustainability Bay at the DEFENDER Kentucky Three-Day Event Edited Press Release Lexington, Kentucky – April 7, 2025 – Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI), is thrilled to welcome back MARS EQUESTRIAN™, a division of Mars, Incorporated, as the Presenting Sponsor of the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event (K3DE) which returns to the Kentucky Horse Park, April 24-27. Partnered with the event […]

Published

1 month ago

April 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

MARS EQUESTRIAN™ Returns as Presenting Sponsor of 2025 Defender Kentucky Three

unnamed - 2025-04-07T132427.816 — MARS Sustainability Bay at the DEFENDER Kentucky Three-Day Event

Edited Press Release

Lexington, Kentucky – April 7, 2025 – Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI), is thrilled to welcome back MARS EQUESTRIAN™, a division of Mars, Incorporated, as the Presenting Sponsor of the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event (K3DE) which returns to the Kentucky Horse Park, April 24-27. Partnered with the event since 2019, MARS EQUESTRIAN also returns as Presenting Sponsor of the Defender/USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Championship, which is determined by U.S. riders’ finishes in the event.

Produced by Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI), a non-profit, charitable organization that supports the development of equestrian sports by staging sporting events at the highest level, the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN features one of only seven annual 5* three-day events in the world. Known as “The Best Weekend All Year,” the event annually attracts nearly 90,000 spectators who also enjoy extensive shopping, a variety of hospitality experiences and a wide array of demonstrations. In addition to the traditional CCI5*-L, the event also features the Cosequin^® Lexington 4*, a US Equestrian Open Eventing Series Qualifier, and the Kentucky International CSI5* presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute.

“Few companies have done as much to support equestrian sports, both in the U.S. and worldwide, as Mars, Incorporated,” said Molly Day, EEI Executive Director. “Their dedication to promoting our sport at the highest level, and always with a deep concern for horses’ well-being, is to be commended, and we are honored to continue our wonderful partnership with them.”

One of equestrian sports’ biggest and most important sponsors, MARS EQUESTRIAN continues its role as an incredible supporter of K3DE, providing something special for virtually everyone at the event including riders, grooms, volunteers, media, hospitality guests, patrons, spectators and, of course, horses! With a presence at the outdoor Trade Fair, Sponsor Courtyard and on the cross-country course at MARS Sustainability Bay, the sponsorship will showcase Mars, Incorporated’s leading brands and services in Petcare, Horsecare, Science and Diagnostics, and Confectionery across the grounds including:

ANTECH™
BUCKEYE™ Nutrition
ETHEL M^® Chocolates
GREENIES™
NUTRO™
PEDIGREE^®
Wisdom Panel™

“We are thrilled to continue our support of the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event with our family of brands to complement this world-class event,” said William Clements, President of Mars Equestrian. “We look forward to interacting with attendees and their pets throughout the event, and are especially excited to share our new WORLD OF MARS in the Trade Fair’s Sponsor Courtyard area.”

About MARS EQUESTRIAN™MARS EQUESTRIAN™ Sponsorship, funded by Mars, Incorporated, is the link between our iconic brands and the equestrian community. For generations, Mars has celebrated a rich equestrian heritage, and through purposeful partnerships, MARS EQUESTRIAN is committed to the sport and building an enduring legacy. From world-class competitions across all equestrian disciplines, to stewarding the power of horses on society and sustainability, the MARS EQUESTRIAN Brand is dedicated to our purpose to improve the lives of horses, pets, and the people who love them. For more information, please visit www.marsequestrian.com and join us @marsequestrian.

Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS EquestrianThe Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event (K3DE) is a thrilling multi-day competition featuring Olympic-level riders and horses in what can best be described as an equestrian triathlon. Horse and rider pairs compete in three phases of the competition – Dressage, Cross-Country and Show Jumping – for $400,000 in prize money to those competing at the CCI5*-L level. K3DE is the largest and longest-running Five Star event in the Americas and as the United States’ premier event, it also serves as the Defender/USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Championship presented by MARS Equestrian for the U.S. athletes. Rolex is the Official Timepiece and Event Partner.

Cosequin^® Lexington CCI4*-S
Introduced in 2021, the Cosequin^® Lexington 4*-S runs concurrently with the CCI5*-L competition, featuring the three phases of eventing – dressage, cross country and show jumping. The Cosequin^® Lexington 4*-S is a US Equestrian Open Eventing Series Qualifier and offers $50,000 prize money. Tickets for viewing the Cosequin^® Lexington 4*-S are included when purchasing the K3DE tickets.

Kentucky International CSI5* presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute
Formerly known as the Kentucky Invitational, the Kentucky International made its debut at the 2018 Kentucky Three-Day Event as a CSI3* and was held as a CSI4* for the first time in 2024. As a CSI5* in 2025, the international show jumping event will make EEI the only event organizer in the world to host both a CCI5*-L and CSI5* in the same week. More information on the Kentucky International CSI5* presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute can be found at https://www.kentuckythreedayevent.com/the-kentucky-international-csi5.

Further information and details on all ticket options on the K3DE, Cosequin^® Lexington 4* and Kentucky International CSI5* can be found at https://www.kentuckythreedayevent.com/.

About Equestrian Events, Inc.
Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI) is a non-profit charitable Kentucky corporation that was established initially to produce the 1978 World Three-Day Event Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park. Following the success of those championships, EEI established an annual event that evolved into the world-renowned Kentucky Three-Day Event, which draws nearly 90,000 spectators to the Kentucky Horse Park each year. EEI added the Kentucky CSI Invitational Grand Prix in 2018, which upgraded to the Kentucky International CSI5* for 2025, the Lexington CCI4*-S in 2021, and also produces other events. EEI is also hosting the United States Eventing Association (USEA) American Eventing Championships in 2026-2028. EEI supports several local and equine charities and over the last 20 years has donated more than $1.1 million to various charities. For more information, please visit www.eq-events.com.

Related Topics:Brands building competition equestrian event media new show sports

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Latest NCAA Baseball Rankings – Georgia Bulldogs Stay Put Ahead of SEC Tournament

The Georgia Bulldogs stayed put in the latest NCAA baseball rankings. The final weekend of the regular season wrapped up and now it is postseason play time. The Georgia Bulldogs ended their regular season on a good note as they took the series against Texas A&M by winning game three on Saturday. However, the series […]

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40 seconds ago

May 19, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The Georgia Bulldogs stayed put in the latest NCAA baseball rankings.

The final weekend of the regular season wrapped up and now it is postseason play time. The Georgia Bulldogs ended their regular season on a good note as they took the series against Texas A&M by winning game three on Saturday. However, the series win didn’t do anything for them in the latest rankings.

Georgia did earn the fifth seed for the SEC tournament that is this week in Hoover, Alabama. The Bulldogs will play the winner of Kentucky and Oklahoma and the winner of Georgia’s game will move on to play Vanderbilt in the quarterfinals.

While the SEC tournament provides one last shot for teams give a good final impression, all that matters is where they are seeded next Monday during the field of 64 selection show. The Dawgs are in a good spot and will likely earn a top seed which will allow them to host the regional and super regional rounds.

Last season, Georgia advanced to the super regional round and faced off against NC State, but fell one game short of making it to Omaha. This season, they will look to final punch their ticket to the College World Series.

In the latest rankings though, there isn’t much of an update for Georgia as they stayed right where they were last week.

LSU
Texas
North Carolina
Oregon
Arkansas
Florida State
Oregon State
Auburn
Vanderbilt
Georgia
Coastal Carolina
Southern Miss
UCLA
Clemson
Florida
Georgia Tech
Ole Miss
DBU
Northeastern
UC Irvine
Tennessee
NC State
Alabama
TCU
Kansas

Join the Community:

You can follow us for future coverage by clicking “Follow” on the top right-hand corner of the page. Also, be sure to like us on Facebook @BulldogMaven & follow us on Twitter at @DawgsDaily

Other Georgia News:

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Is Miami paying too much for 5-star OT Jackson Cantwell? College insiders react to massive NIL deal

Miami invested heavily in its future along the offensive line last week with the commitment of five-star tackle Jackson Cantwell. The Hurricanes and Cantwell, the No. 10 overall prospect in the 2026 recruiting class, negotiated an NIL deal 247Sports previously reported approaches $2 million annually. As a decision on the NCAA v. House settlement nears, […]

Published

21 minutes ago

May 19, 2025

Your Sports Nation

As a decision on the NCAA v. House settlement nears, Cantwell’s annual figure could essentially amount to roughly 10% of Miami’s “salary cap,” begging the question: Is it practical to allocate that much money to a player who will not take a snap in college for more than a year.

More than a half-dozen sources within college football were asked by 247Sports what they thought of Miami spending big for Cantwell and whether devoting that much money for one high school offensive tackle is worth it.

“If you can pay it, do it,” said one SEC director of player personnel. “Go get that guy.”

It may not be that cut and dried once the House settlement — a decision that could come in a matter of days — is officially approved. All future NIL deals more than $600 will be subject to approval from a clearinghouse that will determine whether they meet the standard of fair market value. Schools, at least on paper, will be far more limited in their spending with revenue sharing (expected to be $14 to $16 million for most Power Four football programs) making up the majority of a pseudo salary cap.

“If it’s coming out of the rev share, there’s no f–king way,” the same SEC director of player personnel said. “That’s a quarterback or a starting left tackle. Cantwell is going to start his career and be at best a quality starter. Not a great one. Not an elite one.”

While most of the sources agreed that $2 million per year is excessive for an offensive tackle recruit, others were more open minded.

“Yeah, but you can only have one of them,” said an ACC director of player personnel. “You have to invest up front, and that’s what the market is around. You gotta be damn sure (they’re the one).”

When asked about Cantwell’s price tag, a Big 12 general manager said that he’d much rather sign three high school offensive tackles at $100,000 each. The more darts you throw, the more likely it is one will stick and end up as a bargain.

Others weren’t willing to pay up for any high-profile linemen, arguing quality depth across the board in that room is more important than having a single elite piece and deficiencies elsewhere.

“I don’t find that to be the most effective way to build a roster long term,” an SEC director of scouting said. “But in reality, yes, some teams are going to spend that on a premium position or two each class because either they badly need the position in the short term or maybe they just don’t want to play against them for three-plus years.”

There’s no guarantee a $2 million player will stay happy either. That’s their salary floor. There’s nothing preventing a high school player with that sort of salary from coming back and asking for more money once they produce on the field.

That scenario can end in disaster as evidenced by the Nico Iamaleava saga earlier this year.

Cantwell’s future is uncertain, which is what makes Miami’s commitment to him such a fascinating development as college football is set to once again go through foundational change.

“It’s an interesting case study,” said one Big 12 director of player personnel.

InsideTheU is your source for intel and analysis on the Miami Hurricanes. The trusted staff of Gaby Urrutia, David Lake and Chris Stock provides the latest team news, recruiting and transfer scoop, opinions and more. It’s the largest Miami Hurricanes site on the web with market leading coverage for the most dedicated community of fans. Be the first to know the latest scoop with a VIP membership and unlock all the insider content at InsideTheU.

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Georgia Tech Baseball Now Projected To Host A Regional For First Time Since 2019

Georgia Tech not only got their second straight series win over a ranked ACC opponent, but the Yellow Jackets are now ACC regular season champions for the first time since 2005. Georgia Tech (39-16, 19-11 ACC) came out on top in a tight ACC race that saw six teams win at least 17 conference games, […]

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22 minutes ago

May 19, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Georgia Tech not only got their second straight series win over a ranked ACC opponent, but the Yellow Jackets are now ACC regular season champions for the first time since 2005.

Georgia Tech (39-16, 19-11 ACC) came out on top in a tight ACC race that saw six teams win at least 17 conference games, earning its first regular-season championship since it tied for first place in 2011 and its first outright title since 2005. It is Tech’s fifth regular-season championship under legendary 32-year head coach Danny Hall (1997, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2011), who announced in March that this would be his final season at the helm of the Yellow Jackets.

After a midseason losing streak, it looked like Georgia Tech was going to play its way out of hosting a regional, but with a late-season surge, the Yellow Jackets are now once again projected to host. In the latest D1 Baseball Field of 64 Projections, Georgia Tech is hosting a regional as the No. 16 national seed. The other teams in the region include Tennessee, Arizona State, and Columbia. If Georgia Tech won the regional, they would advance to the super regional to likely face No. 1 overall seed Texas in Austin.

Top-seeded Tech has a double-bye in next week’s ACC Tournament and opens postseason play on Thursday at 3 p.m. against No. 8-seeded Wake Forest, No. 9-seeded Miami (Fla.) or No. 16-seeded California. The single-elimination tournament will be held at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, N.C.

Here is the full bracket for next week:

Game 1: No. 9 Miami vs No. 16 Cal (9:00 a.m. E.T.)

Game 2: No. 12 Virginia Tech vs No. 13 Stanford (1:00 p.m. ET)

Game 3: No. 10 Louisville vs No. 15 Pitt (5:00 p.m. ET)

Game 4: No. 11 Notre Dame vs No. 15 Boston College (9:00 p.m. ET)

Game 5: Winner of Game 1 vs No.8 Wake Forest (9:00 a.m. ET)

Game 6: Winner of Game 2 vs No. 5 Clemson (1:00 p.m. ET)

Game 7: Winner of Game 3 vs No. 7 Duke (5:00 p.m. ET)

Game 8: Winner of Game 4 vs No. 6 Virginia (9:00 p.m. ET)

Game 9: Winner of Game 5 vs No. 1 Georgia Tech (3:00 p.m. ET)

Game 10: Winner of Game 6 vs No. 4 NC State (7:00 p.m. ET)

Game 11: Winner of Game 7 vs No. 2 Florida State (3:00 p.m. ET)

Game 12: Winner of Game 8 vs No. 3 North Carolina (7:00 p.m. ET)

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2025 NCAA Softball Super Regional matchups, schedule

The 16 teams have advanced to Super Regionals and the times are now set. Which teams will forge their path to the Women’s College World Series? All Times Eastern Tallahassee Super Regional No. 12 Texas Tech @ No. 5 Florida State THURSDAY, MAY 22 | 7:00 PM I ESPN2FRIDAY, MAY 23 | 3:00 PM I […]

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23 minutes ago

May 19, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The 16 teams have advanced to Super Regionals and the times are now set. Which teams will forge their path to the Women’s College World Series?

All Times Eastern

Tallahassee Super Regional

No. 12 Texas Tech @ No. 5 Florida State

THURSDAY, MAY 22 | 7:00 PM I ESPN2
FRIDAY, MAY 23 | 3:00 PM I ESPN2
SATURDAY, MAY 24 | 7:00 PM

Austin Super Regional

No. 11 Clemson @ No. 6 Texas

THURSDAY, MAY 22 | 9:00 PM I ESPN2
FRIDAY, MAY 23 | 9:00 PM | ESPN2
SATURDAY, MAY 24 | 9:00 PM

Norman Super Regional

No. 15 Alabama @ No. 2 Oklahoma

FRIDAY, MAY 23 | 5:00 PM I ESPN2
SATURDAY, MAY 24 | 3:00 PM
SUNDAY, MAY 25* | TBD

Gainesville Super Regional

Georgia @ No. 3 Florida

FRIDAY, MAY 23 | 11:00 AM I ESPN
SATURDAY, MAY 24 | 11:00 AM
SUNDAY, MAY 25* | TBD

Fayetteville Super Regional

Ole Miss @ No. 4 Arkansas

FRIDAY, MAY 23 | 8:00 PM I ESPNU
SATURDAY, MAY 24 | 9:00 PM
SUNDAY, MAY 25* | TBD

Knovxille Super Regional

Nebraska @ No. 7 Tennessee

FRIDAY, MAY 23 | 7:00 PM | ESPN2
SATURDAY, MAY 24 | 5:00 PM
SUNDAY, MAY 25* | TBD

Columbia Super Regional

No. 9 UCLA @ No. 8 South Carolina

FRIDAY, MAY 23 | 1:00 PM I ESPN2
SATURDAY, MAY 24 | 1:00 PM
SUNDAY, MAY 25* | TBD

Eugene Super Regional

Liberty @ No. 16 Oregon

FRIDAY, MAY 23 | 10:00 PM | ESPNU
SATURDAY, MAY 24 | 7:00 PM
SUNDAY, MAY 25* | TBD

More from Softball America:

Regional Scores and Updates
Coaching Carousel Discussion Board
Transfer Portal Wire

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Prominent CFB Analyst Very Critical of Massive NIL Deal Given to High Schooler

The recent commitment of elite 2026 offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell to the University of Miami sent shockwaves through the college football world. Several of the nation’s top programs, including the University of Georgia Bulldogs, pursued the five-star recruit before he made his decision. While his decision certainly grabbed plenty of headlines on its own, the […]

Published

24 minutes ago

May 19, 2025

Your Sports Nation

While his decision certainly grabbed plenty of headlines on its own, the reported $2 million NIL payday that Cantwell received from Miami has become a much bigger topic of discussion.

Legendary Georgia head coach recently broke his silence on the matter, and another well-known Bulldog has also come out with some rather choice words for the Hurricanes and their decision to spend so much on Cantwell.

David Pollack, who played for the Dawgs from 2002-04, was recently asked about the reported NIL deal Miami agreed to shell out for Cantwell’s services. According to On3’s Sam Gillenwater, the two-time All-American was very critical of the move, to put it lightly

“If you want to spend this much money on a quarterback, we can have the conversation. I’m not spending $2 million on an offensive lineman. Like, I’m just not,” Pollack said. “An offensive lineman is obviously going to be in the mix, can be great, can control the game. The likelihood of them getting dinged up and hurt is highly possible. Like, you play a physical position up front like that, you’re going to get – it’s going to happen.”

For Pollack, making these kinds of NIL investments should clearly only be reserved for the positions that can be true game changers. Quarterback is obviously the most important position on the field, so it makes more sense in his eyes to invest there first.

When it comes to the O-line, however, it just doesn’t make much sense to shell out what he views as quarterback NIL money for an offensive tackle, no matter how dominant the player may be. There are just far too many variables for Pollack’s liking.

At the end of the day, though, all that really matters is whether or not the Hurricanes view it as a wise investment, and clearly, they do. Pollack can disagree with the move all he wants, but it’s just the reality of modern-day recruiting in the age of NIL.

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NBA Teams Reportedly Aware Michigan’s Lendeborg Has ‘Multimillion-Dollar NIL Package’

Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg’s reportedly large NIL deal may affect his 2025 NBA draft future, as he could choose to play for the Wolverines during the 2025-26 season. ESPN’s Jeremy Woo reported Monday that NBA teams are “aware Lendeborg has a multimillion-dollar NIL package to attend Michigan next season.” The 22-year-old spent two years at […]

Published

42 minutes ago

May 19, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg’s reportedly large NIL deal may affect his 2025 NBA draft future, as he could choose to play for the Wolverines during the 2025-26 season.

ESPN’s Jeremy Woo reported Monday that NBA teams are “aware Lendeborg has a multimillion-dollar NIL package to attend Michigan next season.”

The 22-year-old spent two years at UAB from 2023-25 before transferring to Michigan in April, but explained that he wanted to go through the pre-draft process.

“I’m focused on the draft process and making the NBA right now,” Lendeborg said, per ESPN’s Jonathan Givony. “I want a guaranteed contract. That’s the biggest thing, make sure I am in a good spot. I would prefer to play college basketball in Ann Arbor than be in and out of the G League on a two-way. I want to find a safe spot.”

If Lendeborg’s projected draft range drops, he may earn more from playing a year with the Wolverines compared to his first contract in the NBA. The No. 30 overall pick in the 2025 draft can earn as much as $2.7 million for the 2025-26 season, via Spotrac.

Lendeborg was projected to be selected with the No. 31 pick in the latest mock draft from Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman.

In 37 games with UAB last season, he averaged 17.7 points while leading the AAC with 11.4 rebounds per game. Lendeborg also racked up 1.7 steals and 1.8 blocks on a nightly basis, shooting 52.2 percent from the field and 35.7 percent from behind the arc.

As the draft draws closer, NBA teams appear to have an eye on Lendeborg’s pending decision regarding his college career.

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