2007 Departures - Horses In Training

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Arctic Rainbow was pulled up quickly in the 2.20 at Folkestone after going wrong behind from the looks of things. His first run back after 1054 days. It looked worrying but the RP just states 'lame' at the moment. I'll keep my fingers crossed.
 
Going back to the brief reference on PIANO PLAYER, there's a sad letter in today's RP from James Colling, who bought him for his wife, Francine, who, during her time as a schoolteacher, played the piano. He says she went off to Warwick with their young son full of hope at seeing her pride and joy perform. The letter goes on - "He had run with great credit on his debut over hurdles and we were optimistic for the future. He even had a Cheltenham entry, so we could live the dream. But tragedy struck as PIANO PLAYER fell exhausted at the final flight. It seemed a soft fall, but a horse from behind jumped on to him.

My wife had been informed that he was only winded, but she feared the worst as she saw him there. She said she was transfixed, in floods of tears and willing her pride and joy to get to his feet as the finish took over for other racegoers, who were oblivious to our stricken horse at the final flight.

Alas, PIANO PLAYER had a broken shoulder and nothing more could be done. I felt so helpless being unable to console my wife and young son at the time as I had not gone to Warwick, having had to collect our eldest from school later.

Life can be so hard at times, and we need reminding just what our horses do for us in a sport we all love.

I will always feel for anyone concerned when those dreaded screens go around a stricken horse, and it has left a mark on our lives forever. My greatest sympathy goes out to the stable of Richard Phillips, our co-owner Steve and the groom of our horse, who sadly did not return to PIANO PLAYER's box that night.

Everything else becomes irrelevant when you think of the horse you have loved. Rest in peace, PIANO PLAYER, our equine hero who will be sorely missed by us all."

Then, directly underneath, a letter headed 'genuine horse-lovers' :

What a heartfelt letter from Howard Spooner (RP, January 21), and how I sympathise with him and his family for the loss of BREATHING FIRE. But if it is any consolation, his letter is important to readers like me who believe the jumping game is for genuine horse-lovers, and not those hard-pressed to know how many they have got in training. The late, lamented HALLO DANDY will serve as a permanent reminder that there are, unfortunately, not too many with jump horses who just don't care. (Jan Williams, Faversham, Kent)

And then this, for us to note as a departure, rather than a 'gone before':

RP readers may be interested to learn that SHE'S OUR NATIVE has been retired from racing and will now go to the paddocks. I was very disappointed by her performance in the handicap chase at Taunton last time, but the reason for this poor run became very obvious immediately after the race as blood was pumping from her nostrils. Unfortunately, as she is so wonderfully genuine, she battled on to the finish despite the burst blood vessel, rather than pull herself up, and this only made matters worse... she has brought endless pleasure and success to us, and to Evan Williams, her tainer, winning seven races in all - a bumper, four hurdles and two steeplechases. In view of this record and her breeding we are hopeful her progeny will bring even more pleasure. We live in hope! (Ian Brice)

Just thought I'd copy these out as it does go to show that there is very much another side to the coin of owners who have no emotional attachment to their horses, and so we know where SHE'S OUR NATIVE is going.
 
CARLINGFORD CASTLE, who was second to Teenoso in the 1983 Derby, died last week at Astley Grange Stud. The 27-year-old son of Le Bavard, who was retired from stud duty five years ago, suffered a heart attack after being let out for morning exercise in his paddock, a stud spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

Asthe son of a stallion who was primarily a jumps sire, and bought for Ir7,400gns as a yearling by agent Peter Doyle for trainer Liam Browne at the Ballsbridge sales in Dublin, Carlingford Castle was hardly marked for the Classics. Indeed, his presence in the Derby was so unforeseen that his owner, the late Judge Frank Roe, an amateur rider who trained and rode his own jumpers, had no silks for the Epsom race. Instead, jockey Mick Kinane was outfitted in a knitted woollen jumper.

Nonetheless, Carlingford Castle, who started at 14-1, stayed on strongly to finish three lengths behind Teenoso and Lester Piggott.

That effort, following a win in the Group 2 Gallinule Stakes at the Curragh, caught the eye of Sheikh Mohammed’s adviser, Colonel Dick Warden, and a deal, worth an undisclosed sum, was struck. Carlingford Castle ran his final race as a three-year-old – the St Leger, in which he was third to Sun Princess and Esprit Du Nord – in the sheikh’s colours for Henry Cecil. He did not win again, although he was second in the Yorkshire Cup, the Henry II Stakes and Jockey Club Cup from four runs as a four-year-old. He may have been lucky to have been a three-year-old during one of the wettest springs on record – the 1983 Derby, run on officiallyheavy ground in 2min 49.07sec, was the slowest since 1891 – as he was at his best with give underfoot.

In a sense, everything he did was a bonus, considering he was originally purchased for just Ir1,200gns as a foal by Red Rum’s breeder Martyn McEnery.

“We thought he might make a nice late two- or three-year-old,” said Doyle of the colt as a yearling. “The reason we took a chance with Le Bavard, was that Noel Meade trained a very fast horse out of the mare at the time.”

That horse, Exhilarate, was second in the Group 3 Tetrarch Stakes. He and Carlingford Castle were among ten foals out of Rachel Ruysch, a modest performer by Skymaster.

Carlingford Castle, a flashy chestnut with three stockings and a blaze, sired 611 foals during 17 seasons at stud. Mainly jumpers, they include 90 winners, headed by Inis Cara, who won the 1999 Paddy Power Handicap Chase, and 11-year-old Just Beth, a hurdle winner at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.
 
Krizon, thanks for sharing those letters. I hadn't seen any of them. The one about Piano Player was particularly poignant.
 
Yes interesting letters.
And I'm glad Carlingford Castle lived to such a great age. I remember him well!
 
Kathy, the one ref. to, about Breathing Fire, was wonderful too, if thats what one can say about a letter with such a tragic content. Will copy it here too, as the poem moved me to tears; good to know that others feel like that too:


Letter: Hope and expectation that turned to despair

Published: 21/01/2007 (Letters) Howard Spooner
I SET out from my home in Hertfordshire on Sunday, January 14, leaving for the airport at about 7.15am to catch the 9.05am to Dublin, full of anticipation and excited about the prospect of my horse Breathing Fire - named by my three daughters Frankie, Alex and Gaby - running in one of the biggest races of the year in Ireland, the Pierse Hurdle.
It was about 10.15am when I strolled into Dublin airport to be greeted by Johnny Harrington, husband of trainer Jessica. I have met Johnny only about five times, but every time I am impressed with his humour and his whole attitude to life.
We set off for Leopardstown and, after a lively journey - I am sure Johnny will not mind me saying his 'other' job is not as a taxi driver - we arrived at the track at about 11.30am, albeit with a couple of horns ringing in my ear!
Straight into the owners' and trainers' bar for a pint of Guinness and surrounded by bonhomie and friendliness.
Full of hope and expectation, we progressed from the bar to the dining room, where the rest of Jesse's family were waiting and Maxine and Graham Cowdrey joined us, Max enthusiastic as ever, assuring me that Fire was all ready to run a big race. At that moment, I really thought he could win, or at very least be placed (obviously the Guinness was working!).
At about 2pm we followed Jesse down to saddle him up. He looked great, more alert than normal, as he had always been a fairly laid-back character, and then we were through with the preliminaries and up into the stand to watch the race.
From then on everything seemed to happen in slow motion . . . the run to the first, and then Max saying, "oh he's gone". And then the other runners were gone and Breathing Fire was lying there clearly badly, fatally, hurt - I knew, I could tell by Jesse's reaction.
I felt I was in a bad dream' that it was not happening. The screens went up and they had to miss out that last flight as he was still down. Johnny took me away, and then we were back in the bar.
By now I knew for sure that Breathing Fire was not going to get up' Eammon, Jesse's head lad, had departed without the horse, a tell-tale sign. The horse that Willie Musson had bought me four years earlier and who had brought Jessie and me together had gone in such cruel circumstances.
I love this game, and at times like these I question myself, but I know that, although it is perhaps a slightly guilty cliche, he died doing what he loved, and he also died loved - happy, I would say.We will never forget him and as I made my way home that night my thoughts turned to his empty box, his lass, Ewa Pawlik, who loved him and was away on holiday, to return to no horse.
I had the easy part, and would like now to thank all those involved in turning him into such a fantastic horse, who was poignantly entered to run in the Champion hurdle when the entries came out on Tuesday. As Jesse said, he had the ability to finish second in the Champion, but the head to finish second in a seller at Plumpton!
Finally, a prayer that I had to read at a friend's funeral, who died far too early as well, late last year, who also loved this racing game. I have read it again for Breathing Fire.
You can shed tears that he is gone,
Or you can smile because he has lived,
You can close your eyes and pray he'll come back,
Or you can open your eyes and see all that he's left,
Your heart can be empty because you can't see him,
Or you can be full of the love that you've shared,
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
You can remember him and only that he's gone,
Or you can cherish his memory and let it live on,
You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back,
Or you can do what he'd want, smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

On to Cheltenham . . .

Howard Spooner
 
I hope and pray I never have reason to write such a letter, Crazyhorse.

I know a lot of people cannot understand the sentimentality attached to some horses, but then there are those of us that fully understand. So many owners are completely emotionally detached which must be a nice place to be when something tragic happens to their horse. Unfortunately, for those that are "attached" it can be heart wrenching and absolutely soul destroying - yet we still do it as for the majority of time, for me, the good times completely outweigh the bad ones.

It is nice (in a sad way) to read the letters and tributes from owners about the horses that didn't make it.

Thanks, Crazyhorse.
 
I don't want to start a new thread so I will post this here as it seems the most appropriate.

I was at Chepstow on Friday, along with Dims and Headstrong, and we were very fearful for the life of Brad's House, who fell at the fourth in the handicap hurdle. The dreaded screens came out and the field had to be flagged past the flight, the final one in the race, second time around. The screens were up for a long while and eventually the horse-ambulance was needed, the ambulance drove slowly up the course and a horse's head could be just made out, good signs I felt. However, John O'Shea, Brad's House's trainer didn't look happy. I was bold enough to ask after the horse's health and he said "Well he's alive at the moment".

That was as much as we heard on the course, I was assured after the races whilst having some refreshment that the horse had been put down.

I scanned the RP and SL sites on Saturday morning but I couldn't find any update. I wasn't prepared to leave it at that so I phoned the yard. I spoke to the lady who travels O'Shea's horses and she had relatively good news. The horse had been taken to a vet's close to the course and had made some improvement in the evening but his condition still wasn't very good and he was unable to move his back-end freely. They were going to keep the horse there until Monday and carry out some tests and then make a decision. She invited me to call back on Monday.

Which I did. John O'Shea answered the phone, the horse wasn't back at the yard yet but he had been assured that his condition was no longer life-threatening but they didn't know as yet whether the horse would be able to race again. He thanked me for my concern and I thanked him for taking the time to deal with me in such a patient manner.

All in all a decent end to what looked a very sad tale on Friday. One devastated lass being given a reprieve.
 
Thanks Colin for following this up. I was at the hurdle where Brads House fell. McCoy looked distraught as the horse lay there. It was a hell of a fall. He must be quite a tough nut if he has recovered from that. Good news. :)
 
I am sure John O Shea would have been quite touched, Colin that you took the time to call and ask about the prognosis of Brad's House.

Thank you for letting us know. A happy ending for all the connections, I hope.
 
Thanks for the letter, crazy (which does indeed show the perspective that many owners have on their losses), and well done, Colin, for showing that racegoers give a damn, too.
 
I too had scoured the RP to see if Brads House was ok so it's great to hear he's alive. Thanks Colin.
 
GROOM DANCER, a leading sire of recent years, has died at the age of 23 at Cheveley Park Stud. The son of Blushing Groom stood his final season last year, where he attracted 18 mares at a fee of £6,000.

“Groom Dancer was a truly international traveller whose legacy will live on through his many sons and daughters around the world,” said the stud’s managing director Chris Richardson.

Bred in the United States by Marvin Warner, Groom Dancer was out of the Listed-placed Lyphard mare Featherhill, the dam of three other stakes performers.

He was successful in eight races, landing the Group 3 Prix du Conde as a two-year-old before taking five stakes races at three, including the Group 1 Prix Lupin, in which he easily brushed aside the subsequent Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Trempolino.

He was retired to Haras d’Etreham in 1988 but, despite having sired the 7f specialist Pursuit Of Love and Group 3 winner Twist And Turn in his first crop, was sold in 1995 to Shadai Farm in Japan. It soon became clear that his export was a loss to Europe, as his French crops later included the top juvenile Lord Of Men and the smart runners Dancienne, Kabool and Astair. He was returned to Europe in 1999 by Cheveley Park Stud, which initially set his fee at £10,000.

Among his later high-class horses were the Derby Italiano winner Groom Tesse and the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat winner Le Balafre.

His sons at stud include Pursuit Of Love, Kabool, Lord Of Men and Fleetwood. But his more lasting mark may be as a broodmare sire; to date his daughters have produced the Group 1 winners Rouvres, Tout Seul and Beckett.
 
Not a bad sire, but his stud career wasn't helped by him being moved about all over the place.
 
A lot of his stock were incorrect. I'd always look at a mare by him, though and if the mare was correct, she'd definitely be on my list.
 
All the Groom Dancers I knew (mainly fillies) were foul - very bad-tempered and I wouldn't have one as a gift. One filly of Stoutes called Star Dancer was such a cow being broken as a yearling, she had to wear blinkers to get her to move. Once she went to Stoutes she put 2 people in hospital.
 
MARK OF ESTEEM, sire of last year’s Derby winner Sir Percy, has been pulled indefinitely from stallion duties at Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket due to declining fertility.

The son of Darshaan lost a testicle following colic surgery while shuttling to Brazil for the 2005 southern hemisphere breeding season.

Although he covered his full book of mares there, as a precaution his book was limited somewhat on his return to Newmarket, although he successfully covered 90 mares at Dalham Hall last year.

“Mark Of Esteem's breeding season is very much on hold following recent disappointing fertility analysis results,” said stud director Liam O’Rourke on Wednesday.

“While his general health and libido remain excellent, on veterinary advice we have decided to suspend his season pending further investigation.” The stud had been monitoring the 14-year-old since the end of last season, said Sam Bullard, head of sales for Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley breeding operation.

“We gave him a chance to get fit, but rather than cover a bunchof mares and find out in March there was a problem, we’ve made the decision to take him out now,” he said.

Breeders with mares booked to Mark Of Esteem have been informed of the turn of events. “We’ve spoken to all of them,” said Bullard. “All we havedone is try to help them. What they choose to do now is up to them.”

Ironically, last season was the best yet for Mark Of Esteem’s progeny. The stallion enjoyed a surge in popularity in the wake of Sir Percy’s Epsom triumph, boosted by the victories of another son, Reverence, in the Nunthorpe Stakes and Sprint Cup at Haydock.

His fee had been bumped from £7,000 up to £12,000, its highest level in three years, and he was kept in Newmarket rather than shuttling to Brazil last summer.
 
My fault, I meant to put it in the 2007 arrivals with the stallion stuff, not concentrating tonight ;)
 
Wouldnt it count as a retirement ?? ( BTW - if they are in reading this, if you get him gelded, cn I have him> please please please please please please?????)
 
I suppose it would :huh: something that I don't quite understand though & that is why/how did he loose a testicle in colic surgery? :unsure:
 
Originally posted by Colin Phillips@Feb 6 2007, 08:33 AM
I don't want to start a new thread so I will post this here as it seems the most appropriate.

I was at Chepstow on Friday, along with Dims and Headstrong, and we were very fearful for the life of Brad's House, who fell at the fourth in the handicap hurdle. The dreaded screens came out and the field had to be flagged past the flight, the final one in the race, second time around. The screens were up for a long while and eventually the horse-ambulance was needed, the ambulance drove slowly up the course and a horse's head could be just made out, good signs I felt. However, John O'Shea, Brad's House's trainer didn't look happy. I was bold enough to ask after the horse's health and he said "Well he's alive at the moment".

That was as much as we heard on the course, I was assured after the races whilst having some refreshment that the horse had been put down.

I scanned the RP and SL sites on Saturday morning but I couldn't find any update. I wasn't prepared to leave it at that so I phoned the yard. I spoke to the lady who travels O'Shea's horses and she had relatively good news. The horse had been taken to a vet's close to the course and had made some improvement in the evening but his condition still wasn't very good and he was unable to move his back-end freely. They were going to keep the horse there until Monday and carry out some tests and then make a decision. She invited me to call back on Monday.

Which I did. John O'Shea answered the phone, the horse wasn't back at the yard yet but he had been assured that his condition was no longer life-threatening but they didn't know as yet whether the horse would be able to race again. He thanked me for my concern and I thanked him for taking the time to deal with me in such a patient manner.

All in all a decent end to what looked a very sad tale on Friday. One devastated lass being given a reprieve.
Click to expand...
Thanks a million for taking the trouble Col. That's really great news esp as it's a small stable and would have been hit extra hard [still is I suppose if the horse may not race again].

It was all looking very nasty and our group tried hard to shield the lovely Zelda from any awareness of the mishap and it's probable outcome, as this was her first visit to a steeplechase and she'd looked forward to it all her life [she's a friend who was over with her husband from California].
 
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