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Had a horse break a shoulder at Folkestone a few years ago (an innocuous looking fall at the first fence in the home straight where strangely I’ve never seen a horse fall since) and the RP comment was exactly that — "fell 7th, dead". I didn’t mind that so much but what really made the whole experience even harder to bear was the fact that not a single member of the racecourse staff came to offer a word of sympathy. That , to my mind, was inexcusable.
Yeats:-  The prize-money apart (and I agree with you on that), you cannot deny that Northern Racing have ploughed £mmm of investment into the racecourses they own. Going racing at Newcastle, Brighton, Fontwell, Chepstow and, yes, even Hereford is a totally different experience when compared to the basic facilities on offer at these courses 5 or 10 years ago. ÂÂÂ
So I have to disagree with your opinion on Northern Racing. The Reubens brothers have inherited a profitable company. My concern is that they will not have the same interest in re-investing the profits for Racing’s benefit.
This whole thing has an Alice-in-Wonderland feel to it. It was bad enough that Ian Semple was to be sued for negligence under the Animals Act, but the action has now been extended to include the two Owners who are not covered by public liability insurance. In a sane world this whole case would be laughed out of court. How on earth can the Owners be held responsible for their horse spooking in the paddock?
If this action succeeds, and every follower of horseracing should be praying that it fails, then thousands of small owners like myself will be forced to reconsider their continuing involvement in the sport.<br>
Disappointed, but not totally surprised, that there are <br>still knockers and doubters on here and elsewhere. Whatever the achievements of this horse, it would seem that some people will never be satisfied.
For me, as someone who has been following NH racing for longer than I care to admit, KS is one of the best that I’ve ever seen and certainly the most exciting chaser since Desert Orchid. I believe he is entitled to that plaudit already and doesn’t need to win multiple Gold Cups to prove it. The sport of NH racing has received a huge boost from Kauto Star — we have a new superstar, let’s enjoy him while he’s here.
Thought you would have included the ubiquitous Thommo on your list. You can’t avoid the man :angry: .
Thought you would have included the ubiquitous Thommo on your list. You can’t avoid the man :angry: .
The horse sadly sufferred a fractured pelvis. As we were leaving the course 15 minutes after the race we were held up by the horse ambulance as it very slowly made its way across the exit road and into the racecourse stables. Presumably the vets then decided that the kindest course of action was to put the old fella to sleep.
Like the majority of the posters on this thread, I feel that the horse had done more than enough to enjoy a happy retirement and should not have been racing.
While in no way pretending to be an authority on Latin pronunciation, I do remember that "que" is pronounced "qway" and not as Manuel would say it.
A grand old horse and it’s so sad to read about the appalling condition he was in when rescued from the Earl of Onslow’s field. Was Onslow ever prosecuted for animal cruelty? Somehow I think not……….
Could never understand why so many English people have such a deep mistrust of their fellow-Europeans. We all share the same blood, after all. I think that European political integration, of which membership of the Euro is an essential part, is a noble cause which should transcend any economic argument. If that makes me a traitor, then I’m proud to be so. Shame on this country and our timid, pathetic, visionless politicians who have elected merely to observe from the sidelines.
Surely far, far better to be a state in a European Federation than to turn us into the 51st state of the US of A, which is what Blair has seemed intent on doing. ÂÂÂ
I don’t wish to sound like a Jeremiah, but Nicky Henderson and Tom Taaffe were also making optimistic noises this time last year about the chances of Trabolgan and Kicking King returning to training during the current season.
Don’t think there’s such a thing as a "mild" tendon injury. You just can’t predict how the leg will react when the horse returns to training.
Nothing controversial there, TMM. The NH community is sharply divided on Best Mate’s status. I, like you, am in the Doubters’ camp. A top-class staying chaser he was unquestionably, but never one of the "greats".
Just getting back to the Mildmay course, I’m pretty certain that it originally had gorse fences which were a smaller "nursery" version of the fences on the Grand National course. Sometime during the 1970s these fences were replaced by the conventional park-style birch fences which we have today.
This is a fairly common phenomenon and as far as I am aware it does not significantly impair the horse’s performance on the racecourse. But as part-owner of a "windsucker", we were advised earlier in the year to run him with a tongue-strap and he’s won twice since.
I can’t honestly say that the the tongue-strap made the difference between winning and losing, but there’s nothing to be lost by applying it.
Last used in 1996, and now consigned to history. Not sure what the thinking behind the Park course was SH, but as you say it was an oval loop which left the main course at the 2m 5f start. There were therefore no downhill fences to be jumped. Cheltenham only ever used it for their September (as it was then) and October meetings.
