Headley Britannia is by the part Irish Draft stallion Jumbo out of an American Thoroughbred mare, Alan’s Bambi. She was bred by Mike and Betty Hounsell at Headley Stud in Berkshire, England. Jumbo competed briefly at the advanced level with Andrew Nicholson.

First-placed Lucinda Fredericks and second-placed Bettina Hoy have husbands who have won the event: Clayton Fredericks in 2007 and Andrew Hoy in 2006.
      
“This shows Lucinda’s tenacity and grit, that she never lets me get away with anything,” said Clayton. “At one stage I was the only one in the house to have been to Rolex and won, but now the pressure is on me [to win Badminton two weeks after Kentucky].”

More than 80,000 spectators attended the four days of competition.

Opposition Buzz, who finished the event in 11th place with Nicola Wilson, earned the best-conditioned award after completing the cross-country nearly 20 seconds fast and then show jumping clean the next day.

Madeline Blackman was the only young rider to complete the event, earning 34th place with Gordonstown. She jumped a beautiful clear round on Sunday to earn the Reeves trophy.

Allison Springer and Arthur, who finished 14th, earned the best turned-out award.

Headley Britannia was frequently turned out in a small grazing area inside the European quarantine stabling, convenient to many spectators. When a young girl came by to pet the mare and offered Lucinda Fredericks a four-leaf clover, Fredericks decided to ride with that clover for good luck the rest of the weekend.