October 18, 2024 
It’s a full circle moment for Tamra Smith and the 18-year-old Mai Baum in Maryland.
“He started his four star long career here at Fair Hill,” Smith reminisced. “So, to be back here for the five star, his final five star, is actually very special.”
Just like that four star at Fair Hill, Mai Baum is starting this week’s five star in front. His 25.3 puts him 1.2 penalties ahead of second placed Oliver Townend and veteran five star winner Ballaghmor Class.
“He’s feeling like a million bucks,” Smith laughed at the press conference. “I’m really thrilled with pretty much every aspect of [the test]. I couldn’t have asked for him to be better.”
The crowds, drawn in by the heavy hitters of the first group, created an electric atmosphere.
For Smith who was third in the ring, her and Mai Baum’s experience and chemistry allowed relaxation and suppleness to shine through. After a dream crushing beginning to the year when Mai Baum wasn’t quite right and missed out on selection for the U.S. Olympic team, Friday’s result was worthy compensation.
“It’s hard because [horses] don’t actually speak in words, but they do speak if you listen to them,” Smith commented.
“You listen and you do what’s right by them, not necessarily what you competitively want. We listened to him this summer when he wasn’t quite right ready to go to the Paris Olympics. Mai Baum has taught me a tremendous amount about horsemanship and listening to my horse.”
At 18-years old, Maryland will be Mai Baum’s final appearance at the level.
With only 30% Thoroughbred blood, getting him fit and ready to compete confidently and safely takes a tremendous amount of work and physical effort. But he has proven over and over that when the fitness is there, he cannot be discounted with double clear cross country and show jump rounds.
Equiratings Prediction Centre has Smith and Mai Baum on a 33% win chance and a 58% top 3 finish.
Even though Smith has three seconds in hand above second placed GBR’s Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class on a 26.5 and the same on third placed GBR’s Bubby Upton and Cola on a 26.7, she has little breathing room. Fourth placed NZL’s Tim Price and Falco, along with her fellow compatriots in Boyd Martin and Tseterleg TSF and yesterday’s leader Crosby Green and Highly Suspicious, bring the heat behind her.
“[Ballaghmore Class] is an incredibly tough, incredibly sound horse, and has been throughout his whole career. He’s a natural top class event horse, and we’ve just been hugely privileged to have him as part of our team for so long,” Townend said of his partner.
Upton and Cola are also ready to give the top a go, though Upton has a stark reminder of how thin the line is between the highest highs and the lowest lows in her own incredibly difficult year relearning to walk and ride after a serious injury to her back.
“My perspective on life has definitely changed so much,” she remarked.
“We just enjoy every minute, particularly with this horse who’s done so much for me. We did the Young Rider teams together and I never thought in a million years that we’d get to five star, let alone be fighting at the top with the likes of Tamie and Ollie.”
Another swan song is for Ian Stark, who is designing for a final time here at the Maryland 5 Star. The course looks massive, grounded, and bold, ready to wreck its havoc on the leaderboard. Five star cross country begins at 1:30 pm EST and will stream on Clipmyhorse.tv.
