- This topic has 6 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 4 months ago by
.
- Posts
Ch g born 17 Apr 03
Ran 111 time 1st 12 2nd 12 3rd 18
started his career with Barry Hills; ended it with Ian McInnes…nearly beat Tangerine Trees once!Found himself on the slippery slope but at least ended his days being loved and cared for, even though his retirement was short lived. The side of racing that I try not to think about. I just want him to be remembered. RIP Blue.It was a pleasure to know you for a short while.I’m glad someone has remembered him. He was with Barry Hills for a long time; then ended up with various syndicates and finished up at Ian McInnes yard. That was closed down for nerve blocking. My friend had just bought a horse and he was at her yard. A young girl had owned him but he couldn’t keep weight on so she was going to have him pts; the owner of my friends yard took him on and got his weight up but he then became quite lame a few weeks ago, and his owner couldn’t afford to have extensive tests done. Sometimes you can’t get insurance for ex racehorses. I’ve been contacting various organisations to see if she could get funding for his treatment or of he could go to a retired racehorses home and people have been very helpful, but she and the vet felt that his feet were badly damaged; probably from years of racing, and he was suffering. I just wanted them to know that racing people did care and that there may be help available,but I also promised them that I would make sure he was remembered. At least he was loved by his new owner and he ended his life surrounded by people who cared. He was a great favourite at the stable. I only met him once; I’ve kept away recently as I felt there was only one end to this; although I was expecting it, it still rocked me to the core when I heard the news last night.Looking at his early races his future was so bright. I’d imagine that his last yard had to find homes for a lot of horses very quickly; had he been somewhere else maybe he would have gone to a more experienced home at first. Sprinters must be the most difficult horses to rehome I’d imagine. I had offered to pay towards some of his feed and hay; as a racing fan I felt responsible for him, but haven’t got the sort of money that his treatment could have cost…even then it might have been to no avail.His last but one stable did contact someone who worked at Ian McInnes yard for me and they said he was sound when he retired and had not had foot problems. I guess we’ll never know now, but at least he didn’t end up on a horse transporter going to heaven knows where.
Oh my word. I don’t know what to say. Other than – as you said – he was loved at the end. He was unlucky (the number of owners and trainers he had in just two years is sickening) in some respects, but lucky in others. In that he had people who cared about him at the end and that he could have ended up in a much worse situation. He is remembered if it’s any consolation at all – not just by me – my partner knew him immediately I said his name. And if we do, others will. There’s horses I loved who have just disappeared and I would love to know how they are, or how they ended – Benbyas, Jinxy Jack, Almushtarak – lots of others. Like you we try to help – we’re not rich, but we sponsor ex racehorses, donate to horse charities etc – most people can do this. Try to minimise the heartbreak.
You’re an admirable person and tried your best and you’ve done what you wanted to do – you’ve brought his name into the spotlight.They’ve put a lovely picture of him on the ‘Horse racing nostalgia’
facebook page if you can get onto it….When they’d been able to get the weight back onto him he was taken for a hack at the country park next to his yard. All was fine until they decided to go for a canter, and was still fine until another horse came alongside Blue. He suddenly turned into the racehorse that he was and took off like a scalded cat. A poor mans version of the Arkle/Flyingbolt schooling session perhaps!
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.