The 26-year-old Yorkshireman, who had hoped to complete a hat-trick in Lexington after victories at the Badminton and Burghley trials, missed out on a jackpot of £233,000 ($358,000) when his first horse, Ashdale Cruise Master, came to grief at a jump-  although the horse was uninjured - and will not be fit in time for the next Badminton trials starting on Friday (April 30).

To add to Townend’s woes Carousel Quest - the Burghley-winning horse on whom he intended to compete later this week - also has injury problems.

Townend endured a 51-hour journey to join his two horses in Kentucky involving a chartered flight to Disneyland and a 16-hour, £1,600 ($2,461) taxi ride across the Pyrenees.

As he prepared to fly directly back to Britain, he commented: "At least the trip home should be easier than the journey here."

While Townend's weekend ended in pain, his Great Britain colleague William Fox-Pitt celebrated his first Kentucky victory.

The 41-year-old Briton, twice an Olympic team medallist and multi-European Championship medallist, earned £50,000 ($77,000) as he capitalised on the lead he had established in the first day’s dressage with a score of 42.8 on his horse Cool Mountain

Townend, meanwhile, was looking beyond Badminton to his return.

"I want to get well quickly and start riding again as soon as possible," he said.

"It's a tough sport and these things happen.

"I was very fit going into Kentucky, and the physical strengthening work I did helped me take such a hard fall without serious damage."

Townend was taken by helicopter to the University of Kentucky Hospital, where detailed medical checks revealed the extent of his injuries

He had hoped to be discharged and ride in the showjumping finale on his other horse ODT Master Rose, lying seventh following cross-country during an impressive four-star debut

But Townend's fall put paid to his chances of following fellow Briton Pippa Funnell, the only previous eventer to complete a Grand Slam when she achieved it with Primmore's Pride in 2003.

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