EC1
On a break
not sure if special is the right word..as they are all special to those close to em..but you know what i mean
I know we have had threads before where we stick up videos of good races etc..but I thought it might be nice to have a thread where very special horses can be accessed easily..put up a synopsis of their career then a list of youtube videos sort of thing
I got this idea when Tanlic mentioned Bula on the other thread..so I'm going to start with Bula.
BULA
taken from http://www.famousracehorses.co.uk/Bula.htm
BULA – one of the truly great racehorses
This tribute is provided here in December 2007 by a donation from Sylvia Langford as a Christmas present for Geoffrey Stacey whose favourite racehorse was Bula.
Thank you from Famous Racehorses and the many fans of Bula to Sylvia and Geoff for ensuring that Bula has his place on this website where he will always be remembered.
By Raincheck out of Pongo’s Fancy
Brown gelding
Foaled 1965
Trainer: Fred Winter at Uplands in Lambourn
Owner: Captain Bill Edwards-Heathcote
Stable Lad: Vincent Brooks
Ridden By: Stan Mellor, Paul Kelleway, John Francome
CAREER
Bula raced 51 times in total, winning 34 times, 13 steeplechases and 21 hurdle races.
MAJOR RACES WON AND PLACED
1970 Benson & Hedges Handicap Hurdle
1971 Ackerman Skeaping Hurdle, Kingwell Hurdle, Welsh Champion Hurdle
1971-72 Champion Hurdle
1973 Black & White Whiskey Gold Cup
1975 Blue Circle Cement Chase
1975 3rd Cheltenham Gold Cup
1975 2nd King George VI Chase
1976 2nd Mackeson Gold Cup
It is very difficult to write about horses who were legends during their lifetimes and do justice to their characters, exploits and the effect they had on the public who were privileged to share their times. Bula is no exception. He was a spectacular racehorse, both over hurdles and fences. Over hurdles he beat Persian War, 3 times Champion Hurdle winner thought by many to be the greatest ever hurdler. At Sandown over fences he beat the legendary Tingle Creek at level weights.
Bula was the first foal of his dam Pongo’s Fancy who had won a bumper at Tuam and a hurdle race at Mallow. His sire Raincheck had run unplaced in the 1951 Derby at Epsom and won two hurdle races before being retired to stud. Bula was bought as an unbroken unfashionably bred 3 year old at Ballsbridge by Martin Molony for Captain Bill Edwards-Heathcote for the sum of £1,350 guineas. He was sent to Fred Winter to be broken in and trained and stable lad Vincent Brooks inherited him. Like many of the really good racehorses no one wanted to do him. He is remembered as being big, ugly and fat, looking more like a war horse than a racehorse. Vincent was one charge short and was asked to take him on and duly obliged.
Perhaps this early vision of him as a War Horse was prophetic for he was to prove how brave he was and he was to become the first really great horse, of many, trained at Uplands. Fred Winter will be remembered as that rarest of beings, not just a great jockey but a great trainer, and more importantly a great man. He was not just respected by all who knew him, he is remembered with affection and awe. He wore his greatness well, he was an honest and humble man who was not ashamed to be sentimental about his horses. Bula was one of his favourites.
Throughout his career Bula showed little hint of his talent when working at home. Bobby Beasley who was former stable jockey partnered Bula in some early workouts and felt that he caught a glimmer of the acceleration he would later use to such advantage. Vincent Brooks also thought there might be something special about him. Bula was ridden by Vincent on his own mostly because he had a mind of his own and could gallop off for no apparent reason. But he was a Christian in his box and it was said about him that he would rather lick you than bite you. Vincent was dubbed, ‘the Luckiest Lad in racing’, because he not only did Bula but also Pendil. Paul Kelleway is credited with being the making of Bula as he was able to get the horse to relax and switch off in his races. Paul had an exceptional teacher as a young rider, he was apprenticed to the famous flat jockey Harry Wragg, whose nickname was ‘The Head Waiter’ because of his talent to come from behind at the last minute and seize the race from unsuspecting victims. Paul had also spent many seasons with the great trainer Ryan Price.
Paul’s way of riding was often criticised because some people felt that to be trying a horse ought to be kept handy. But being switched off during the initial part of a race really suited Bula who had to be waited with and who possessed the speed to take a race in the final stages. They were a formidable team and together took back to back Champion Hurdles in 1971/72 and at the height of the partnership were undefeated in 13 races.
Paul was injured when Bula made his race debut at Lingfield in November 1969 and Stan Mellor stood in for him. Neither Stan nor Fred expected much in this first race and Bula has not shown to be the best of jumpers at home either so Stan was asked to teach the horse as much as he could and find out if he was any good. Bula kicked the first three hurdles out and was in third place going for home. At the second last Stan gave him a little kick to see what he could do and was astounded when Bula sprinted easily away to win the race by 6 lengths. He would continue his novice season with the same kind of performances and meet nothing that could equal him. His second season showed that he not only possessed speed but bountiful courage, he never shirked a battle. In 1971 after a 5 length victory in a race it was decided he should meet the champions and he went to Wincanton to take on the mighty Persian War in The Kingwell Hurdle. Persian War was a brilliant racehorse whose connections perhaps expected too much of him, he changed trainers often and suffered from hard palate problems. Nevertheless Persian War loved the game and was a hard opponent. On that first day Bula would receive 4 lbs from Persian War and beat him by 10 lengths. In all Bula was to beat Persian War three times.
It was a small field for the 1971 Champion Hurdle where Bula started the 15/8 favourite. Paul brought Bula up the stands rail where his turn of foot left the field for dead beating Persian War by 4 lengths.
The following year proved more difficult for Bula. Beaten a neck on his seasonal debut by a horse he gave 3 stone to, he then injured a leg when winning the Ackerman Skeaping Trophy and it took 3 months for Fred to nurse him back to health. He then won the Kingwell but bruised a foot in the process. But he was ready to defend his crown at Cheltenham and his 8 length win was the first of such a wide margin since Insurance in 1932. At the second last Kelleway released his double handful putting Bula into the race and they sauntered to the line.
When Bula’s attempt to win a third Champion Hurdle in 1973 showed that he had lost his sparkle over hurdles he was switched to chasing where he proved an outstanding novice chaser. In 1975 he was considered Cheltenham Gold Cup class and John Francome rode him. Bula required good ground to be at his best and that year the race was run in dreadful conditions. Bula put in a brave performance and finished third to Ten Up. Connections felt he might well have won had the ground been better. Not surprisingly he started favourite for the 1976 Gold Cup but was not at all himself on the day never troubling the winner Royal Frolic. Had he won the Gold Cup he would have become the first to win both the Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup, before Dawn Run.
In 1977 when Bula was 12 years old he took his place in the Champion Chase at The Festival instead of the Gold Cup as it was felt that the 2 miles round Cheltenham might better suit him than the 3 plus of the Gold Cup. It was again terrible conditions and although putting in another typically brave effort he fell heavily at the second last, breaking a bone and badly injuring the muscles of his off fore shoulder. He was taken back to Uplands where it was initially hoped that he could be saved. He had severed the radial nerve in the shoulder so he was not in pain but he became weak, lost muscle and had trouble standing up. Finally after 8 weeks of attempting to save him Fred Winter and his vet Frank Mahon put Bula to rest. Fred was left to break the news to Vincent. All who knew him, and a great many who did not, were devastated by his loss.
1971 Champion Hurdle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khCX4QL4k48&feature=related
1972 Champion Hurdle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1bqWv4oOuE
I know we have had threads before where we stick up videos of good races etc..but I thought it might be nice to have a thread where very special horses can be accessed easily..put up a synopsis of their career then a list of youtube videos sort of thing
I got this idea when Tanlic mentioned Bula on the other thread..so I'm going to start with Bula.
BULA
taken from http://www.famousracehorses.co.uk/Bula.htm
BULA – one of the truly great racehorses
This tribute is provided here in December 2007 by a donation from Sylvia Langford as a Christmas present for Geoffrey Stacey whose favourite racehorse was Bula.
Thank you from Famous Racehorses and the many fans of Bula to Sylvia and Geoff for ensuring that Bula has his place on this website where he will always be remembered.
By Raincheck out of Pongo’s Fancy
Brown gelding
Foaled 1965
Trainer: Fred Winter at Uplands in Lambourn
Owner: Captain Bill Edwards-Heathcote
Stable Lad: Vincent Brooks
Ridden By: Stan Mellor, Paul Kelleway, John Francome
CAREER
Bula raced 51 times in total, winning 34 times, 13 steeplechases and 21 hurdle races.
MAJOR RACES WON AND PLACED
1970 Benson & Hedges Handicap Hurdle
1971 Ackerman Skeaping Hurdle, Kingwell Hurdle, Welsh Champion Hurdle
1971-72 Champion Hurdle
1973 Black & White Whiskey Gold Cup
1975 Blue Circle Cement Chase
1975 3rd Cheltenham Gold Cup
1975 2nd King George VI Chase
1976 2nd Mackeson Gold Cup
It is very difficult to write about horses who were legends during their lifetimes and do justice to their characters, exploits and the effect they had on the public who were privileged to share their times. Bula is no exception. He was a spectacular racehorse, both over hurdles and fences. Over hurdles he beat Persian War, 3 times Champion Hurdle winner thought by many to be the greatest ever hurdler. At Sandown over fences he beat the legendary Tingle Creek at level weights.
Bula was the first foal of his dam Pongo’s Fancy who had won a bumper at Tuam and a hurdle race at Mallow. His sire Raincheck had run unplaced in the 1951 Derby at Epsom and won two hurdle races before being retired to stud. Bula was bought as an unbroken unfashionably bred 3 year old at Ballsbridge by Martin Molony for Captain Bill Edwards-Heathcote for the sum of £1,350 guineas. He was sent to Fred Winter to be broken in and trained and stable lad Vincent Brooks inherited him. Like many of the really good racehorses no one wanted to do him. He is remembered as being big, ugly and fat, looking more like a war horse than a racehorse. Vincent was one charge short and was asked to take him on and duly obliged.
Perhaps this early vision of him as a War Horse was prophetic for he was to prove how brave he was and he was to become the first really great horse, of many, trained at Uplands. Fred Winter will be remembered as that rarest of beings, not just a great jockey but a great trainer, and more importantly a great man. He was not just respected by all who knew him, he is remembered with affection and awe. He wore his greatness well, he was an honest and humble man who was not ashamed to be sentimental about his horses. Bula was one of his favourites.
Throughout his career Bula showed little hint of his talent when working at home. Bobby Beasley who was former stable jockey partnered Bula in some early workouts and felt that he caught a glimmer of the acceleration he would later use to such advantage. Vincent Brooks also thought there might be something special about him. Bula was ridden by Vincent on his own mostly because he had a mind of his own and could gallop off for no apparent reason. But he was a Christian in his box and it was said about him that he would rather lick you than bite you. Vincent was dubbed, ‘the Luckiest Lad in racing’, because he not only did Bula but also Pendil. Paul Kelleway is credited with being the making of Bula as he was able to get the horse to relax and switch off in his races. Paul had an exceptional teacher as a young rider, he was apprenticed to the famous flat jockey Harry Wragg, whose nickname was ‘The Head Waiter’ because of his talent to come from behind at the last minute and seize the race from unsuspecting victims. Paul had also spent many seasons with the great trainer Ryan Price.
Paul’s way of riding was often criticised because some people felt that to be trying a horse ought to be kept handy. But being switched off during the initial part of a race really suited Bula who had to be waited with and who possessed the speed to take a race in the final stages. They were a formidable team and together took back to back Champion Hurdles in 1971/72 and at the height of the partnership were undefeated in 13 races.
Paul was injured when Bula made his race debut at Lingfield in November 1969 and Stan Mellor stood in for him. Neither Stan nor Fred expected much in this first race and Bula has not shown to be the best of jumpers at home either so Stan was asked to teach the horse as much as he could and find out if he was any good. Bula kicked the first three hurdles out and was in third place going for home. At the second last Stan gave him a little kick to see what he could do and was astounded when Bula sprinted easily away to win the race by 6 lengths. He would continue his novice season with the same kind of performances and meet nothing that could equal him. His second season showed that he not only possessed speed but bountiful courage, he never shirked a battle. In 1971 after a 5 length victory in a race it was decided he should meet the champions and he went to Wincanton to take on the mighty Persian War in The Kingwell Hurdle. Persian War was a brilliant racehorse whose connections perhaps expected too much of him, he changed trainers often and suffered from hard palate problems. Nevertheless Persian War loved the game and was a hard opponent. On that first day Bula would receive 4 lbs from Persian War and beat him by 10 lengths. In all Bula was to beat Persian War three times.
It was a small field for the 1971 Champion Hurdle where Bula started the 15/8 favourite. Paul brought Bula up the stands rail where his turn of foot left the field for dead beating Persian War by 4 lengths.
The following year proved more difficult for Bula. Beaten a neck on his seasonal debut by a horse he gave 3 stone to, he then injured a leg when winning the Ackerman Skeaping Trophy and it took 3 months for Fred to nurse him back to health. He then won the Kingwell but bruised a foot in the process. But he was ready to defend his crown at Cheltenham and his 8 length win was the first of such a wide margin since Insurance in 1932. At the second last Kelleway released his double handful putting Bula into the race and they sauntered to the line.
When Bula’s attempt to win a third Champion Hurdle in 1973 showed that he had lost his sparkle over hurdles he was switched to chasing where he proved an outstanding novice chaser. In 1975 he was considered Cheltenham Gold Cup class and John Francome rode him. Bula required good ground to be at his best and that year the race was run in dreadful conditions. Bula put in a brave performance and finished third to Ten Up. Connections felt he might well have won had the ground been better. Not surprisingly he started favourite for the 1976 Gold Cup but was not at all himself on the day never troubling the winner Royal Frolic. Had he won the Gold Cup he would have become the first to win both the Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup, before Dawn Run.
In 1977 when Bula was 12 years old he took his place in the Champion Chase at The Festival instead of the Gold Cup as it was felt that the 2 miles round Cheltenham might better suit him than the 3 plus of the Gold Cup. It was again terrible conditions and although putting in another typically brave effort he fell heavily at the second last, breaking a bone and badly injuring the muscles of his off fore shoulder. He was taken back to Uplands where it was initially hoped that he could be saved. He had severed the radial nerve in the shoulder so he was not in pain but he became weak, lost muscle and had trouble standing up. Finally after 8 weeks of attempting to save him Fred Winter and his vet Frank Mahon put Bula to rest. Fred was left to break the news to Vincent. All who knew him, and a great many who did not, were devastated by his loss.
1971 Champion Hurdle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khCX4QL4k48&feature=related
1972 Champion Hurdle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1bqWv4oOuE
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..i love hurdlers..don't tell Grassy though
