Racing ban lifted on Mad Moose

There’s good news for fans of popular racehorse Mad Moose — the quirky chestnut could soon be back on the racetrack.

There was outcry among Moosey’s supporters earlier this year (9 January) when the naughty gelding was banned from racing.

Mad Moose, who is trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies in Naunton, Glos, refused to race one too many times and fell foul of the authorities.

He refused to start four times between October 2012 and January 2014, including at Cheltenham and Aintree.

The 10-year-old’s final race before his ban was the Grade One Tingle Creek at Sandown in December, in which he did start, but didn’t make it over any fences — pulling himself up before the first.

“The matter was referred to the Authority by the Sandown stewards because the gelding had refused to race, been reluctant to race or tailed itself off, in both flat and jump races, on 6 further occasions in the previous 14 months,” said the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) at the time.

But yesterday (Thursday 6 November) the BHA lifted the restriction.

The panel noted that “after a break at grass” the gelding had then been sent to Nicky Tickler in Yorkshire where he had his back treated. And it seems to have done the trick.

“The gelding had subsequently returned to Twiston-Davies and been in work since June and had shown no sign of planting itself and had also been hunting,” said the BHA.

“Having considered the evidence, including a written statement from Twiston-Davies, the Panel decided to lift the restriction.”

Howver, if Mad Moose shows any sign of his naughty antics recurring, and refuses or is reluctant to start within the next six months, he’ll be referred back to the BHA.

The horse even got Nigel in trouble with the BHA last November, after the trainer chased after him waving a belt to try and get him to start at Cheltenham. Nigel’s unauthorised “encouragement” landed him with a £140 fine.

Despite his quirks Mad Moose has won seven races — three hurdles, three chases and one on the Flat. He finished secnd to Sprinter Sacre in a Grade One at Cheltenham, and second to Mount Athos in a Group three at Chester.

Mad Moose has a large following on Twitter — with fans calling to “Let the Moose loose” back in January.

And today, for his 3,900 loyal followers he tweeted: “I’M FREE AT LAST!”

We eagerly anticipate his racecourse return.

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