'Superstar' horse eyes first Badminton Horse Trials win
The Olympic gold medallist pairing of Ballaghmor Class and Oliver Townend, could become the outright most successful British combination in eventing history at Badminton this weekend.
The pair have already enjoyed a distinguished career, claiming four five-star titles and leading Team GB to an historic Olympic gold medal at the Tokyo Games.
The 18-year-old gelding has not been placed outside of the top five on his past four visits to Badminton, finishing runner-up twice.
And you can watch highlights of the 2025 Badminton Horse Trials on Sunday, 11 May (BBC Two and iPlayer from 13:45 BST).
Townend, who has had the horse he calls "Thomas" in his yard since a four-year-old, told BBC Sport: "There's no other way to describe Ballaghmor Class apart from being a part of the family.
"He's very shy to start with but I think he's become quite aware that he's a superstar now.
"When the wagon goes down the road to a competition and he's not in it, he's banging the stable door down. Thomas is what you'd call a professional, a proper competition horse."
The "quirky" horse first gained attention in winning the Burghley Horse Trials on his debut at the level in 2017. He has since achieved success at Kentucky, Burghley again and Maryland last autumn.
Townend, 42, has won nine five-star level events, including Badminton in 2009 on Flint Curtis.
"For me to try to show the world how good he is, is my main job but, so far so good. By the time he finishes everybody will realise quite what a special horse we've seen," he added.
Townend is also riding Ballaghmor Class' stablemate Cooley Rosalent in a bid to claim his second Badminton title and 10th five-star win.
Paris Olympic champions Laura Collett, Ros Canter and Tom McEwen are amongst the challengers, alongside the reigning World Champion Yasmin Ingham.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Summer McIntosh breaks third world record in five days, a Phelpsian feat
Summer McIntosh is the first swimmer to break a world record in three different individual events at one long course meet since Michael Phelps at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. McIntosh, a triple 2024 Olympic gold medalist, lowered her own 400m individual medley world record on Wednesday at the Canadian trials for the World Championships in Singapore in July and August. Advertisement She clocked 4 minutes, 23.65 seconds, beating her previous record of 4:24.38 set at the 2024 Canadian Olympic Trials. Earlier at this meet, McIntosh reclaimed the 400m free world record (Saturday) and broke a 10-year-old world record in the 200m individual medley (Monday). She also swam the third-fastest time in history in the 800m free (Sunday) and the second-fastest time in history in the 200m butterfly (Tuesday). For Thursday, the last day of the meet, she is entered in the 200m free, not one of her primary events, in Victoria, British Columbia. McIntosh, an 18-year-old from Toronto, has put together one of the best single-meet performances in history. Advertisement The list starts with Phelps' eight-gold-medal effort at the 2008 Beijing Games. There, he broke world records in the 200m and 400m IMs, the 200m fly and the 200m free. Phelps is the only swimmer to win five individual events at a single Olympics (2008) or World Championships (2007). McIntosh can match that at this summer's worlds. She has said she plans to swim five individual events: her three Olympic gold-medal events — both IMs, 200m fly — plus the 400m free and one of the 200m free, 200m backstroke or 800m free. After worlds, McIntosh plans to move to Austin, Texas, and start being coached by Bob Bowman, who coached Phelps for his entire career. Advertisement Summer McIntosh chose swimming and became Canada's big splash Summer McIntosh, an Olympic swimmer from Canada, is challenging Katie Ledecky while still in high school.
NBC Sports
an hour ago
- NBC Sports
Summer McIntosh breaks third world record in five days, a Phelpsian feat
Summer McIntosh is the first swimmer to break a world record in three different individual events at one long course meet since Michael Phelps at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. McIntosh, a triple 2024 Olympic gold medalist, lowered her own 400m individual medley world record on Wednesday at the Canadian trials for the World Championships in Singapore in July and August. She clocked 4 minutes, 23.65 seconds, beating her previous record of 4:24.38 set at the 2024 Canadian Olympic Trials. Earlier at this meet, McIntosh reclaimed the 400m free world record (Saturday) and broke a 10-year-old world record in the 200m individual medley (Monday). She also swam the third-fastest time in history in the 800m free (Sunday) and the second-fastest time in history in the 200m butterfly (Tuesday). For Thursday, the last day of the meet, she is entered in the 200m free, not one of her primary events, in Victoria, British Columbia. McIntosh, an 18-year-old from Toronto, has put together one of the best single-meet performances in history. The list starts with Phelps' eight-gold-medal effort at the 2008 Beijing Games. There, he broke world records in the 200m and 400m IMs, the 200m fly and the 200m free. Phelps is the only swimmer to win five individual events at a single Olympics (2008) or World Championships (2007). McIntosh can match that at this summer's worlds. She has said she plans to swim five individual events: her three Olympic gold-medal events — both IMs, 200m fly — plus the 400m free and one of the 200m free, 200m backstroke or 800m free. After worlds, McIntosh plans to move to Austin, Texas, and start being coached by Bob Bowman, who coached Phelps for his entire career. Nick Zaccardi,
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island marks 20th anniversary
NEW YORK (PIX11) — Parks are popular summer destinations, and one world-class open space is celebrating an anniversary. Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island was built in 2005. To celebrate its 20th anniversary, the facility is hosting several special events. More Local News The track will be open for a public community run on Thursday, June 12, at 6 p.m. New York City FC II will play four home matches at the iconic stadium on August 8th. Runners of all ages and students hold championships and qualifying meets. Lou Vasquez has been the director of Icahn Stadium for 20 years. His love of running began as a student athlete at the former Downing Stadium. 'There's so much history here. World records have been set here. It's an inspiration to the athletes, Come on down and run the track where Usain Bolt broke the world record,' he said. The city created the track and field space in 1936, originally called it Triborough Stadium. It has a seating capacity of 5,000 and meets specifications for local, national, international and Olympic events. The New York Football Club donated $3 million to upgrade the interior soccer field in 2024. In September, it hosted the first professional soccer matches. In July, the track will be replaced with the same surface used by the Olympics. This is the peak park season. Field trips and festivals happen all summer on the island. The MTA built new vehicular and pedestrian ramps between Randall's Island, Queens, and Manhattan. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
