6 former racing megastars who have impressed in their new careers
Not all the stars of the track retire to stud or the field — some famous racehorses even go on to competitive careers in new disciplines. Here are six Grade or Group One winners enjoying an active retirement.
Saphir Du Rheu
The 10-year-old retired after running in the Gold Cup last year, and has since transferred his skills to eventing. His new rider, Charlotte Alexander, started “Saphy” off team chasing and hunting. However, it was soon clear the Mildmay winner could have more ambitious targets. He’s now jumped clear round eight novices and is being tilted for the top.
“Next season the aim is intermediate and two-star, but eventually I’d love to do Blenheim with him,” says Charlotte. “I think he could go all the way. I’m not piddling round at the lower levels — we’re on a mission!”
Cue Card
The nine-time Grade One winner was retired last year after an illustrious career trained by Colin Tizzard. He has since made the move to Katie Jerram-Hunnable’s showing yard, and has racked up a string of victories in-hand. Next season, he will be out under saddle in RoR and SEIB retrained racehorse classes — with Royal Windsor as his target.
“He’s easy, a great walker, and conformationally incredibly correct, as well as being brave,” says Katie. “He’s the public’s horse and they love to see him excelling in a new job.”
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Katie says the 13-year-old been “really good” to retrain despite “taking a hold in canter” — and loves titbits, such as oranges, biscuits, apples and polos.
Bobs Worth
“Bob”, 14, who won the Gold Cup, RSA and Albert Bartlett at the Festival, might not be out competing, but he still leads a highly active life as a “family horse” on the Vigors’ stud farm, where he used to spend his summer holidays.
He leads the Vigors boys up the gallops on their ponies, goes hunting and schooling.
“He’s very fit and the happiest horse we’ve ever had; he always has his ears pricked and never a grumbly moment,” says Tracy Vigors. “We have thought about competing him, but he loves his life just as it is.”
Kasbah Bliss
The Group One winner and World Hurdle runner-up, now 17, had a stellar career under both codes before turning to dressage. His new rider, Eugenie Danloux, had expected him to enjoy eventing, but “he wouldn’t jump a twig”. She switched him to dressage and they have won a host of competitions together.
Signs Of Blessing
The Group One-winning sprinter is also destined for a dressage career with Eugenie since signing off his racing career with a win a year ago.
“At first it was like riding a giraffe, with his head in the air, but he has a soft mouth and a desire to please and is now ready to start competing in dressage,” Eugenie says.
Denman
Sadly no longer with us, the mighty Denman lived the life of Riley after retiring from his stellar jumps career, spending his days hunting and team chasing with Charlotte Alexander.
“Denman’s gallop was something very special,” says Charlotte. “It was like silk. He effortlessly covered the ground like no other horse I have ridden. He may not have made an event horse starting at 13, but who knows if he had gone down that route as a four-year-old!”
Don’t miss the ex-racehorse special in thuis week’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine, out now (10 October)
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Martha is an experienced journalist who is mad-keen on horses and dogs. Her reporting CV includes the Paris Olympics, European championships, Aachen World Equestrian Festival and World Cup finals. After growing up with assorted liver and white springer spaniels, she enjoyed 14 years with two rescue dogs. Now, her constant companion is Fidget, an extremely energetic and habitually muddy black and white springer. Martha has written on topics as diverse as a top horse’s clone to the best GPS trackers for dogs, as well as equestrian and rural matters for Country Life, The Field, The Times, The Spectator and The Telegraph alongside Horse & Hound.