Some Burghley facts & figures

With over 160,000 visitors over the four days, more than 600 carefully selected exhibitors, an average of 80 of the world’s top competitors and a prize fund of over £300,000, 21st century Burghley is a far cry from the inaugural event, which took place more than 50 years ago with just 19 competitors and in front of a mere 12,000 people.

Eventing came to the magnificent Elizabethan parkland surrounding Burghley House in 1961 by accident rather than design, after the Marquess of Exeter, a keen equestrian, heard that the three-day event at Harewood was to be cancelled due to a suspected outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease. He invited the British Horse Society to transfer the event to his estate in a move which was to prove the start of a remarkable journey.

In only its second year, 1962, Burghley ran the FEI’s European Championship. It went on to host two World Championships (1966 and 1974) and six European Championships (1962, 1971, 1977, 1985, 1989 and 1997).

Today the event ranks within the UK’s top ten national sporting occasions by attendance.

William Fox-Pitt is Burghley’s most successful competitor, having won the title six times (1994, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2011), with Virginia Elliott (née Holgate), Mark Todd and Andrew Nicholson winning five times.

Andrew Nicholson has completed Burghley Horse Trials more times than any other rider – a staggering 34 times.

Andrew Nicholson on Avebury won the Burghley title for three consecutive years - 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Burghley has long been graced with Royal visitors and competitors. In 2011 HRH The Princess Royal presented the prizes, but in 1971 as the young Princess Anne, she also rode at the event and took the European Championship title. Captain Mark Phillips won the event in 1973 and subsequently became its course designer. Their daughter Zara Phillips is the only child of two former winners to compete at the Event.