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I have worked my way backwards through this list and it’s so sad that young beautiful horses are losing their lives being asked to do something they were never bred for. RIP all the babies.
This poor horse was obviously totally unsuited to the life his owner and trainer chose for him. At least his nightmare is over. RIP.
They should rename the race he made his own today and run it in his honour every year.
Courage such as Many Clouds showed today should never be forgotten.Absolutely agree with that idea.
A great horse who should be commemorated, like all the best who gave everything for our pleasure and entertainment.
Terribly sad, but surely better than a broken leg or back to end his life. And hopefully less painful and distressing than, say, colic or chronic lameness.It has to happen for all of us sometime. At least he didn’t know it was coming, or happening. I think that’s what many of us would wish for.
RIP Many Clouds. Good old lad, that’s how to go out on a high.
Horse mad from a small child and remember saving my sixpences til I had half a crown for a lesson. Soon became plain that I would never be expert. No natural talent or balance, a Teflon bum, and allergic to them too!
Over the years I tried to stay away from them but just couldn’t. Hacked whenever a chance, mainly on holidays.
Then realised, at 59, that a ride had improved a trapped nerve problem in my neck. Must be the gentle shoulder rocking. Started riding regularly again at a local stable and, at 61, it’s still keeping the trapped nerve at bay and a few other aches and pains as well. Still got the Teflon bum though, so just as well I haven’t forgotten how to fall off!I know it’s a different sphere, but when you have 18 y-o eventers still competing at international level, 8 is a ridiculously low age limit. And, surprise, the first 4 horses home in that “Veterans” Hurdle were only 8.
Fantastic to see Wayward Prince wiping the floor with the youngsters in the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster!
And a mention for lovely old Tranquil Sea, at 13, running into a close 5th in the Newbury Veterans Chase! (and West End Rocker, also 13, for getting round.It does your heart good to see them still loving it.
Thanks for that BG. Though obviously heavily biased against all jumps racing, the undisputed statistics when Cheltenham is compared with a similar but lower profile course (Hexham) the figures are shocking. I felt sick reading them.
One thing that stands out is fence construction differences. If a small course can make its fences safer, with more "give" in them, then why not the biggest and supposedly best course in the country?
It seems that Cheltenham has a lot of hard thinking to do. It should be ashamed of these statistics. It must NOT be about spectacle for the punters at the cost of equine lives.
In the 70’s I always had a soft spot for The Dikler. Built like a brick outhouse, with his big white blaze, he was an old-fashioned looking racehorse. Didn’t look speedy but he powered his way to some great wins.[attachment=0:3svhsty9]The Dikler.png[/attachment:3svhsty9]
What I love best about AP, apart from being a great guy, is that he’s not only a jockey, he’s a horseman. A brilliant one.
He doesn’t have to beat the c**p out of horses to get his winners. He just seems to know if there’s something left in the tank at the finish, and if it’s there he’s somehow able to bring it out. Horses just seem to want to do it for him.
And if it’s not there he doesn’t give it a hard time just to get in the frame. His will to win doesn’t override his horsemanship (unlike a certain very famous ex-flat jockey I could mention if I had an L and a P).
And he rides his share of the dodgy ones, due to owners/trainers thinking he’s a miracle worker. If the water’s no good you can’t turn it into wine! He chews his fair share of the turf! (Is that where the term "Come a cropper" comes from?
Wow! Will try not to miss that! Can you imagine the noise of a bunch of Shires at full gallop
The stands could collapse!Just Shires or any heavy horses? Those Suffolks can be quite quick, and Clydesdales tend to have longer legs
If you gotta go, I can think of worse ways. just hope it’s not a genetic weakness he’s been passing on. RIP boy
RIP to him and all the others that have lost their lives in the less than 3 weeks since I went on holiday.
25 or more horses!! It was a really shocking toll to come home to. Very sad.
Oh poor lad, what a terrible shame. I thought his fall looked a bad one but as nothing was said about injured horses I assumed he’d got away with it. So unlucky.
RIP Little Josh
A sad end for a great horse. RIP
I thought it was terrible the way ITV news milked it for sensation, going on about Synchronised last year even though that was completely different circumstances. And giving airtime to Animal Aid so they could spread their malice to the general (non-racing) public.
The stands could collapse!
