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AP, I wish the horse all the best in his retirement and thanks for offering so many of us the chance to share in Salute’s career.
What an honest horse he is – he even retired himself genuinely!!
well done AP, you deserve your good fortune, hope the old boy has a happy retiremnet
Thank you all for your kind words.
In a plot development that makes National Velvet look like a documentary, it’s now been arranged that Salute will be joining his old friend Greenwood in retirement.
The pair spent three years together at the Newmarket stable of James Eustace, which ended when we claimed Greenwood at Sandown towards the end of his five year old season. A few weeks later, Salute was sold to Philip Hobbs, only to join up again with Greenwood when we bought Salute just under two years later.
Whilst with Pat Murphy, they spent many happy mornings together out in the paddock, generally side by side in the far corner ignoring their younger stable mates. They were also in adjacent boxes in the barn, and Salute would fret so much when Greenwood went off to race, that another horse would have to be moved into the empty box for the day.
When the lady who now has Greenwood (she was one of his part owners), heard that Salute had retired, she immediately contacted us to offer him a home. We know from having seen Greenwood that the horses are wonderfully well looked after there, they are ridden most days and have plenty of space to go out and enjoy a life of leisure as well. I’m delighted to know that the pair will be reunited once more.
AP
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Smashing stuff AP hope he has a long and happy retirement
That’s wonderful to hear; horses never forget their pals…I’d love to see them meet up with each other; some photos please! [My troubles are over, and I am at home; and often before I am quite awake, I fancy I am still in the orchard at Birtwick, standing with my old friends under the apple trees…..Black Beauty]
Fantastic story…and what a great insight into ownership at a realistic level. Thanks to both horse & owner!
Alan was kind enough to leave me a badge to watch Salute at two of my local tracks.
These were races referred to earlier in the post. At Kempton I thought for all the world the old boy was going to win until Odiham ran him down, after which there was the banter with that one’s trainer Hughie Morrison. At Lingfield he didn’t seem to act on the downhill bend in the three runner race.
The horse was game and consistent and no doubt gave Alan a lot of fun and interest looking through the race calendar and watching him run. I know that at one time Alan was thinking of running him over hurdles but am glad he didn’t.
I have followed Salute and appreciated that over the last few runs he seemed to be finding things difficult and was wondering if he would revert to claimers. Age catches up with us all and it appears that the fires weren’t burning as brightly. I am delighted that a good home has been found and hope that Salute enjoys a long and happy retirement.
Alan-many thanks for sharing your experiences with us on TRF and for your generosity.
Are you looking for a replacement , perhaps at the forthcoming horses in training sales?Ian
No need to apologise about starting one final thread on Salute, AP – we’ve surely all appreciated the honesty and candour with which the gelding’s performances, itinerary, etc. have been outlined on these pages over the years. Delighted that the old boy has reached the end of his career intact, and has a splendid retirement spent with Greenwood in front of him – sounds like the two of them will have a grand time getting older, fatter and more cantankerous / characterful (delete as applicable) together!
gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
Ian,
A replacement is being sought, impossible though that task might seem. I bid for a 5-y-old called Sam Lord at Doncaster Sales last month, but he made more than I was prepared to pay at £25,000, knocked down to R Venn Bloodstock. I’m waiting with interest to see which trainer now has him. Much the same happened at Newmarket July sales, again the horse went for £25,000 and is now in the Middle East.
Claiming races are also being monitored, but it can be difficult to work out what the current trainer sees as the real value of his horse – one that looked interesting recently has been entered in four claimers – first for £16k when he didn’t run, then for £30k (tailed off), then for £18k (third) and he’s now entered for £8k next week!
Doncaster sales at the end of next month is the most likely venue to find a suitable candidate.
AP
Nice eulogy AP
Thanks for the enjoyable series of posts devoted to Salute’s career
I wish him a happy retirement in the company of old pal Greenwood
salut!
Ian,
A replacement is being sought, impossible though that task might seem. I bid for a 5-y-old called Sam Lord at Doncaster Sales last month, but he made more than I was prepared to pay at £25,000, knocked down to R Venn Bloodstock. I’m waiting with interest to see which trainer now has him. Much the same happened at Newmarket July sales, again the horse went for £25,000 and is now in the Middle East.
Claiming races are also being monitored, but it can be difficult to work out what the current trainer sees as the real value of his horse – one that looked interesting recently has been entered in four claimers – first for £16k when he didn’t run, then for £30k (tailed off), then for £18k (third) and he’s now entered for £8k next week!
Doncaster sales at the end of next month is the most likely venue to find a suitable candidate.
AP
Thanks for the update Alan,
I’ll keep my eyes open for any acquisition and won’t be bidding against you!
Alan sent me a couple of photos of Salute to share with forum members. These were taken at the yard a couple of weeks ago and, I think you’ll agree, show Salute looking great and ready for many long, happy days in the paddock.
http://i840.photobucket.com/albums/zz321/cormack15a/Salute2.jpg
http://i840.photobucket.com/albums/zz321/cormack15a/Salute.jpg
Enough about Pat, though, Colin!
Grand to see Salute enjoying himself out in the fields.gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
Grand to see Salute enjoying himself out in the fields.
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