Competition for ex-racehorses who now hunt
Owners who boast an ex-racehorse who now hunts have the chance to compete at Cheltenham racecourse next month.
Nearly 50 retrained racehorses will be competing at Cheltenham for the third RoR Meriel Tufnell Racing to Hunting Challenge, on Sunday 16 November.
All the horses taking part must be registered with Retraining of Racehorses (RoR), have raced in Great Britain and be hunted regularly.
Horses team chasing this year are eligible, but those currently point-to-pointing are not.
The track, in the middle of Cheltenham racecourse, is built by commentator Mike Tucker. It includes a few fences on from the racecourse, and extra obstacles built the previous day.
As well as jumping and racing, competitors have to show their skills in unique ways. They must open and shut a gate and will be asked to take a glass of port from a tray. A section of the course is timed and there is also a style mark.
Last year’s winner was team chaser Yvonne Goss with her ex-racehorse Haxton (pictured top). In close second was Whatcanyasay ridden by Robyn Gray, who shares the horse with her twin sister.
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Before Cheltenham the Gray’s horse had been to Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) in a showing class and this year he won the RoR Scottish Championship at the Royal Highland Show.
Di Arbuthnot, RoR chief executive, said the Challenge “is really what the RoR is all about — life after racing.”
“It is great to see some of the retired racehorses competing in their new skills at the home of jump racing,” added Ian Renton from Jockey Club racecourses.
The event will take place before racing on the third day of The Open meeting at the Gloucestershire track.
Entries need to be in by 10 November and cost £22.50.
More information on Retraining of Racehorses
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