The board of directors of Fair Hill International has accepted the invitation extended to them by the United States Equestrian Federation to submit a bid to become only the second 4-Star event in the United States (and the seventh in the world). This new Olympic-caliber event would be held in the autumn of 2018. FHI currently hosts a 3-Star event.
The other U.S. 4-Star is The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event held each April. If Fair Hill were to become a 4-Star event, Maryland then would equal Kentucky in having a Triple Crown race (the Preakness) and a 4-Star event, Fair Hill International.
Trish Gilbert (FHI chairman) and Garla Geiersbach (FHI executive director) are working closely with the Maryland Horse Industry Board in developing the bid. The following team has been assembled to assist:
- Facility Designer Todd Gralla from Populous (designer of the equestrian venue for the 2012 London Olympics)
- Course Designer Derek DeGrazia (Fair Hill course designer and course designer for 2020 Tokyo Olympics)
- Maryland Director of Sports Terry Hasseltine (also vice president of the MD Stadium Authority)
