Applicants bidding to host the Games in 2018 had until today to return their signed bid applications and questionnaires.

Canada, which has never hosted the Championships, confirmed its initial bid to host the 2018 event in Bromont near Montreal, earlier this year, but at a meeting of the FEI Bureau in July, the world governing body decided not to allocate the event to them, even though they were the only bidders, as it did not provide the necessary financial guarantees.

However, the governing body subsequently accepted a re-submitted bid from the Canadians.

The FEI had revealed in November 2011 that a record eight bidders had shown tentative interest in hosting the Games along with Canada including the US, Australia, Austria, Hungary, Morocco, Russia and Sweden, who all subsequently dropped out.

However, Lexington in Kentucky and Wellington in Florida subsequently indicated that they would be interested in hosting the Games and they were joined by a proposed bid from Britain in September.

The British interest was dropped last month with the British Equestrian Federation (BEF) citing problems with funding and securing a host venue as the reasons for its withdrawal, leaving the way clear for Wellington and Lexington to join Bromont/Montreal in a three-horse race for hosting rights in 2018.

Lexington hosted the last World Championships in 2010, the first time the event had been held in America.

Lexington in Kentucky hosted the last World Equestrian Games in 2010 © AFP / Getty Images