Badminton Horse Trials Cancelled

The Badminton Horse Trials has been cancelled due to heavy rain.

One of the world's most prestigious four-star evening competitions, the Trails was due to begin on Friday with two days of dressage, followed by cross-country on Sunday and Monday's showjumping finale.

The Telegraph reports that:

"It had been given added significance this year by Britain's world number one William Fox-Pitt going for the £220,000 Rolex Grand Slam, a prize awarded for any rider that wins consecutive Burghley, Kentucky and Badminton titles.

Fox-Pitt last night added the Kentucky crown to his Burghley victory seven months ago - both aboard Parklane Hawk - but his Badminton hopes have now been dashed.

"The recent exceptional rainfall has left the ground at Badminton totally waterlogged and partially flooded," Badminton director Hugh Thomas said.

"Further rain is due this week, leaving no chance of the ground drying out.""

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