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The Duke’s trainer was interviewed about him and said he would keep running as long as he was enjoying it or something along those lines, but when he retired he has a home there for life. But that was over a year ago. He has a sort of fan club apparently. The horse, not the trainer.
So pleased others liked Exotic Dancer too. I was there when he died – absolutely heartbreaking. Life just isn’t fair.
Truly a horse with a story – well worth having a look at the RP article if you don’t know this horse.
So pleased he had such a happy retirement.
Both Celtic Dancer and Just Paddy’s Band (now confirmed) died in the same hurdle race at Newcastle yesterday. Just as entitled to respect as the Aintree horses and just as sad and upsetting.
Tonge, did Just Paddy’s Band die at Newcastle? I thought he must have when I saw it – truly horrible. So I’ve been trying to find out but there’s nothing on Memorials and the RP haven’t mentioned him at all.
Not sure I implied that he was mistreated by connections or anyone else for that matter. I just thought he deserved better and I noted the instinctive reactions of a number of racing people who were with me at the time- instinctive because they were without thought, just what they felt as an immediate reaction. People who watch or work in racing every day, pretty much.
Which to me says something. I think that the fact that he had so few races and wasn’t doing that well showed – to me at least – that racing maybe wasn’t the best option for him. He was only 8, so in my head, maybe he could have had a few more years doing something he could be better suited to.He did deserve better. This was the immediate instinctive reaction by everyone in the room when it was announced before the next race. Whatever the figures say, several people’s (racing people’s) unthinking reaction was despair. And the first comment was ‘He didn’t deserve that’ and the second ‘That’s just greed’. Don’t know if it was or not, but everyone reacted in the same way.
Black Mischief retired aged 10 years. Difficult to keep sound, so retired and the Frys are currently looking for a home for him outside of racing.
The RP article is basically saying what most people on here are saying, (citing examples of what other courses have done to modify their jumps) and saying it’s time to consider banning water jumps. Lee Mottershead has also written a piece about Midnight Shadow.
My Better Half also remembers Full Strength and his nightmare death, but the one that upset me the most was East Tycoon, at Ludlow. I can see it in my head like it was yesterday. To me no amount of ‘spectacle’ justifies a horse suffering what East Tycoon suffered. The Better Half had rung me just after it happened and I was so distraught I was incoherent and he couldn’t understand what I was saying, I was in such a state. I haven’t seen a water jump being jumped since then and won’t, so I didn’t see poor Midnight Shadow die. Watching chases I turn away as they approach the water. Cowardly, I know, but what happened to East Tycoon haunts me to this day.
It’s just not something that’s needed. I contacted the BHA following East Tycoon’s death, giving my opinions on this and had just the response I expected. None.
There’s to be an autopsy, samples are being taken. According to reports the trainer has a much higher equine sudden death rate than average, but apparently the autopsy is standard in sudden death cases.
Exactly Tonge, but people including some very big owners, send their horses to some of the Irish trainers we’ve talked about previously, where horses as young as two appear regularly on the deceased list.
There’s something fundamentally wrong with a sport which relies on the horses, yet can treat horses in the manner it does (and I’m aware there’s some fantastic owners and trainers who truly love their horses) but does little if anything about such horrific cruelty and continues to trot out the same old rubbish about ‘welfare being the most important part of our sport’ and the horses are ‘treated like royalty’.
Sickening, hypocritical, in the extreme. I’ve continued to watch because to me, the horses are so beautiful and I love to see them, but I’m getting to the point where I just can’t cope with it anymore. I cry at stories like Roy Rocket or Oliver’s Betty who were/are so clearly very much loved, then I see something like the Mahon story and just despair. There must have been stable staff there, jockeys, visitors to the stable for various reasons. Why on earth didn’t some-one report it sooner? What’s wrong with people?
It’s about money, no more or less than that and too many people involved couldn’t give jack about the horses. And I’ve seen that at first hand. Not necessarily outright cruelty at that level, but certainly treating them without any kind of care or kindness, or thought for their basic mental and physical needs, a commodity nothing more. Many are sent to slaughter without any attempt whatsoever at trying to find a home for them.
Apologies- as I’ve said, I’m struggling with this.
I was so hoping Trot On survived because there were no confirmations either on tv or on write ups. The most awful fall on the flat, such a young horse. So sad to see this.
HRI – Registrations.
Lists that weeks deaths but there’s a wealth of other info too.
I’m technologically inept but I’m sure some-one will be savvy enough to provide a link.
Poor Beltor. I think the breeder or his family owned him for most of his life, although I’m not certain.
Ridiculous number of horses dying lately – maybe it’s just perception but there seems to have been a huge number the last few months.
Totally disagree with horses being run again so soon, but amazingly, Call It Magic has just won followed by 14 year old Ballybroker Bridge. Remarkable performances
