William Fox-Pitt may have been kept in third place behind Andrew Nicholson at Burghley Horse Trials today, but he had ample consolation in the form of a $150,000 pay cheque. 

Series victor

The Brit received the prizemoney for winning the HSBC FEI Classics series, which links the world’s six four-star events.

Fox-Pitt and Nicholson were both vying to win the title, but in the end William finished top by a single point, making it the closest finish since the series began in 2008.

“That was close!” said William. “I knew Andrew was on fantastic form and to win by one point was nerve-racking.”

Close for comfort

Having won Pau in 2011 and Kentucky in April this year, William was in pole position, but he admitted that he wondered if missing Luhmühlen was going to prove to be a mistake.

“It was too close for comfort, but I’m lucky to have had such a good horse as Parklane Hawk here at Burghley,” he said. 

William Fox-Pitt, who won the series twice before - in 2008 and 2010 - has won 11 four-star events. He is the only rider to have won five out of the world’s six CCI4*s. 

He has also represented Britain 16 times in championships, winning Olympic silver (2004 and 2012) and bronze (2008), world team gold and individual silver on Cool Mountain (2010) plus team silver in 2006 and team bronze in 2002.

Fox-Pitt, 43, is married to Alice, a television racing commentator. They live in Dorset, and have two young sons, Oliver and Thomas - and are expecting a third child.