Maryland 5 Star's Future: Why 2027 Is in Doubt and What a 5* Means

What happened to the Maryland 5 Star?

The Maryland 5 Star will not have its planned organiser for 2027: on Thursday, Oct 8, 2026, Select Event Group told US Equestrian (USEF) it is withdrawing as the prospective licence holder "at this time." Because the 2026 edition at Fair Hill had already been cancelled, the future of America's autumn five-star eventing competition is once again an open question.

In its statement, reported by Eventing Nation, Select pointed to timelines, funding requirements and organisational responsibilities. It said the decision reflects "the practical realities of the current situation, not a lack of enthusiasm for the event's return."

Select also said the certainty needed to responsibly relaunch an event of this size "has not yet materialized." Talks about funding, governance and operating structures are continuing, and Select says it is ready to support or lead a future effort once a viable long-term funding model emerges.

How we got here: a timeline

This is the second setback in seven months. Here is the sequence, using what organisers and USEF have said publicly:

• 2021: The Maryland 5 Star runs for the first time at Fair Hill, near Elkton, Maryland, after gaining CCI5*-L status.
• March 10, 2026: USEF confirms the 2026 Maryland 5 Star (planned for Oct 14–18) is cancelled. It says the licensee, the Sport & Entertainment Corporation of Maryland, would not host the CCI5*-L or CCI3*-L "due to apparent financial concerns."
• March 11, 2026: The Fair Hill Foundation calls the five-star "paused" for 2026 and says it is aiming for a 2027 return.
• April 21, 2026: Select Event Group announces it has taken over as lead organiser at Fair Hill. It applies to run the 2026 three-star and young horse classes and starts preparing a 2027 five-star application.
• Oct 8, 2026: Select withdraws as prospective 2027 licence holder.
• Oct 15–18, 2026: The USEF three-star (CCI3*-L) and the USEA East Coast Young Event Horse Championships are scheduled at Fair Hill as planned.

On funding, the Chronicle of the Horse reported earlier this year that state budget analysts had recommended deleting the annual state grants that had helped pay for the competition. Beyond that, no organiser has given public figures for what a 2027 edition would cost.

What is a CCI5*-L?

Eventing is the horse world's triathlon: dressage, cross-country and show jumping, ridden by the same horse and rider. If you are new to the sport, start with our guide to eventing's three phases.

The code breaks down like this:

• CCI stands for Concours Complet International, an international (FEI) eventing competition.
• 5* is the star level. One star is the international entry level; five stars is the top.
• -L means "long format," with the longest cross-country course. -S is short format, explained in our CCI4*-S guide.

According to the Kentucky Three-Day Event's own explainer, five-star cross-country has fixed fences up to 1.20 m, brush fences up to 1.45 m and a required speed of 570 metres per minute. The same explainer says it's widely estimated that fewer than 1% of riders reach this level.

Four-star and five-star fixed fences can be the same height, and both run at 570 m/min. The step up comes from bigger brush fences and a longer course: the same explainer lists long-format four-star (CCI4*-L) cross-country at 5,700–6,270 m and five-star (CCI5*-L) at 6,270–6,840 m. (A short-format CCI4*-S is far shorter, at 3,420–3,900 m.) Combine that with more technical questions and a show jumping round after a gruelling day, and you have the sport's hardest test.

The CCI5* events list: only seven in the world

The Fair Hill Foundation calls the Maryland 5 Star one of only seven five-star eventing competitions in the world. That is why losing one matters so much.

1. Adelaide (Australia), April
2. Kentucky (Lexington, USA), April
3. Badminton (UK), May
4. Luhmühlen (Germany), June
5. Burghley (UK), September
6. Maryland (Fair Hill, USA), October, cancelled for 2026
7. Pau (France), October

The other six were already the sport's top-level events when the FEI moved to its current five-star system in 2019. Maryland first ran as a five-star in 2021, giving the US a five-star in both spring and autumn.

What it means for US five-star eventing

Without Maryland, Kentucky in April is the only US five-star. For American riders and owners, that has practical effects:

• One home shot a year. A horse that is ready for five-star in late summer can't run in the US until the following spring.
• Autumn means going abroad. The other autumn options are Burghley in September and Pau in October. Flying a horse to Europe costs a lot and takes time, and the horse needs to acclimatise.
• Fewer chances to prove a horse. Five-star completions show how a horse copes with the longest, most demanding tracks. Selectors and owners pay attention when picking horses for championships.
• Less for fans and the local area. Fair Hill offered East Coast spectators a top-level event within driving distance.

What it doesn't change: US riders can still compete at four-star level at home, including the US Equestrian Open of Eventing Final, and Fair Hill keeps its three-star and young horse championships this year.

What to watch next

Nothing is final for 2027 yet. Here is what to follow:

• Oct 15–18 at Fair Hill: The USEF three-star (CCI3*-L) and USEA East Coast Young Event Horse Championships go ahead. It's a good look at the next generation of horses, and at the venue's future.
• USEF statements: USEF licenses US international events. Any new 2027 applicant would go through USEF, and the FEI would also have to approve it.
• Funding news: Select has tied its return to a "viable long-term funding model". Watch for announcements from public, private or community partners.
• The 2027 FEI calendar: Whether a Maryland CCI5*-L date appears will be the clearest signal.

If you're a rider or owner aiming high

• Plan a spring five-star run around Kentucky, and leave plenty of margin for qualifying results.
• Price out an autumn trip to Burghley or Pau early if your horse peaks later in the year.
• Use four-star long-format events to build fitness and experience in the meantime.
• Keep an eye on our eventing coverage for updates.

Until organisers say otherwise, the honest answer is simple: the Maryland 5 Star is on hold, not gone. Its return depends on someone securing long-term funding and a licence.