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Happy retirement Native River. Right decision as he clearly didn’t enjoy himself today and there seems no better opportunity for him to go out on a high. https://www.racingpost.com/news/latest/absolute-legend-native-river-retired-after-welsh-grand-national-no-show/529317
Pleased to hear that news. It is the right decision.
I followed him off a cliff in his novice Chase season before abandoning him at Aintree, where of course he won! And he denied me in that epic Gold Cup when I had backed Might Bite.
However, he landed a nice bet for me in the Hennessy. I always enjoyed watching him run and am glad he is retiring safe and sound.
Sob bye bye legend , 15 winning bets out of 17 but regardless of any monies won watching him attacking fences from the front has been my racing highlight of the last 5 seasons , alas I’ll now have to find another horse to love , have a long happy retirement bonnie bay
Pick 3 on Saturday champion 2025/2026
So glad he bows out in one piece, doesn’t owe them anything. he told them today enough was enough
VF x
I see vf has mentioned Takingrisks above, but his retirement got somewhat overshadowed by Native River’s yesterday.
Takingrisks was also a wonderful old stayer and, aside from his Scottish National win, the way he stayed on so grittily to win the 2019 Rehearsal Chase and 2021 Sky Bet Chase will live long in my memory. Wishing both horses long and happy retirements.
Thanks for the news re Takingrisks Viking.
One of the few quality horses to come out of the Richards yard in recent years. To win one big handicap as an outsider takes some doing but to pick up three at 40s, 25s and 20-1 is quite an achievement.
Enjoy a richly deserved retirement.
Vieux Lion Rouge what a horse he has been happy long deserved retirement. He will be staying with David Pipe as always said he would. But officially retired now turned 13
VF x
Just bumped up the Veterans Final 2022 thread and he was mentioned in there.
A super horse especially at Aintree. Happy retirement.
I wondered if this was on the cards after his last run, particularly as he’d failed to complete over the Aintree fences on his last 2 attempts. Given his outstanding record over the years, it seemed like he was telling them he’d had enough. Glad he’s getting the happy retirement he deserves.
Yes, I thought he would be retired after his last run. What a smashing horse he’s been over the years. I hope he has a long and happy retirement, probably telling all the youngsters at the Pipe yard how it should be done.
What a wonderful performer Vieux Lion Rouge has been. I know the Grand National course is not as tough as it used to be, and there are more opportunities to run on it nowadays, but his record at Aintree is still hugely impressive. I’m still in shock about his fall in the 2021 Grand National! Am not counting what happened in last year’s Becher Chase as that wasn’t his fault.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Vieux Lion Rouge had successfully jumped more fences on the National course than any other racehorse in history. From a quick check, he appears to be ahead of Amberleigh House and Big Fella Thanks who were the other candidates I thought of. I expect one of the better-informed experts on here may know.
Wishing Vieux Lion Rouge a very happy retirement.
He joins Del’ Arca also under same ownership and aged 13 in retirement
He staying at the pipes yard as there no rush to find him something new, they say he loves his box, loves his daily routine and his stall handler, he will lead and show the you gets the ropes on the gallops. They will find someone to have him in the future but they want let him just go anywhere.
Vf x
Native River a big favourite of mine. Cannot believe it was nearly 4 years ago he won the Gold Cup.
Vieux Lion Rouge another favourite. He just did not have the stamina for the National but was a superb jumper of those unique fences. Huge surprise to see him come down last year.
Please to see both retiring in one piece
This certainly isn’t news of a new retirement, but there’s a nice article here about 1992 Tote Gold Trophy winner Rodeo Star who is still going strong at the amazing age of 36!
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/horse-racing/meet-rodeo-star-incredible-ex-25881796
vf – your post mentioned Dell’ Arca – has he been retired as well as Vieux Lion Rouge? I saw Dell’ Arca get a mention in the Racing Post article about Vieux Lion Rouge, but it seemed to just be saying he was the same age.
Possibly I could have missed an announcement after Dell’ Arca’s last run on 3 January. You normally seem to be in the know on these things, so I thought I’d check!
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