Spotthedifference

We all know when they decide to retire him he's got a wonderful home at JP's Stud with Elegant Lord, Istabraq and Flagship Uberalles.

A friend of mine retired her point to pointer (he was 11ish) as he started to burst blood vessels in his races - he hated retirement so much and loved the buzz of raceday so she brought him back into training and had him back fit for a return to the track. He had a heart attack on his return - retirement isn't for all horses and Spot seems to thrive on Cheltenham's X-Country course.
 
Surely connections have earned the right to make their own decisions regarding the horse. I'm sure they know the horse best and keeping a 14yo so competitive and so enthusiastic is achievement enough. Its hardly for greed that he is running for, and had he been retired as a 12yo, he wouldnt have had the same glory, or us, the same pleasure. One of these races will surely be named after him.
 
If he were mine (I wish) he would have proved enough to have earned the right to a slower pace of life.
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I dont think they are still racing him as they feel he has something to "prove" I think he just loves it.

If he were mine I would give him a break, come back for a hurdle warm up around Feburary time and then go to the festival again all being well.
 
Interesting looking back at his first win at CLONMEL at the age of 6

From RP

04 February 1999 Soft


4:45 J.F.O'Sullivan Hunters Chase (5yo+) 3m

[off 4:47] £2,455.36, £562.50, £241.07, £133.93

TRAINER Age Wgt JOCKEY SP OR TS RPR

1 Spot Thedifference E Bolger 6 11-7 Mark Grant(7) 20/1 — 100+
2 8 Jaywalker (IRE) E Bolger 5 11-2 Mr T Lombard(3) 7/1 — 83+
3 3½ Hunters Chorus (IRE) Donal Hassett 8 11-9 Mr A Fitzgerald(5) 14/1 — 89+
4 9 Millbrook Warrior E Bolger 6 11-7 Mr W J McLernon(7) 8/1 — 79
5 5 Ships Decanter D P Kelly 7 11-7 Mr B Hassett(7) 8/1 — 74
6 6 Ruille Buille Patrick Day 7 11-7 t Mr W F Codd(7) 8/1 — 68
7 10 Johnstheman I Madden 9 11-7 Mr D J Duggan(7) 14/1 75 — 58
8 15 Arthur Patrick J McCarthy 7 11-7 Mr J J Dullea(7) 20/1 — 43
9 12 Perfect Light (GB) E Bolger 10 11-9 Mr J T McNamara(5) 6/1F — 31
10 8 Not A Razu (IRE) Michael Hourigan 8 12-0 Mr P Fenton 8/1 — 23
11 12 Augusta Brook Eugene M O´Sullivan 6 11-2 Mr B O´Sullivan(7) 33/1 — 6
PU Dry Highline Michael Hourigan 7 11-9 Mr P Fahey(5) 12/1 — —
F Close To Tears (IRE) James Barry 7 11-7 Paul J Crowley(7) 20/1 — —
PU Beatin Side S Slevin 8 11-7 t Mr E Fehily(7) 7/1 — —
PU Tassam (USA) Hans Jurgen Kuhnle 8 11-7 Miss E Doyle(7) 50/1 — —
F Conny´s Hope Robert Tyner 9 11-2 Mr E Gallagher(7) 8/1 — —
PU No Swap Hans Jurgen Kuhnle 10 11-2 Mr A Fleming(7) 33/1 — —
UR Commanche Scout Donal Hassett 6 11-7 J L Cullen(7) 20/1 — —


18 ran TIME 6m 42.40s TOTAL SP 142%
1st OWNER: Mrs S Bolger BRED: Fenlon Bros TRAINER: E Bolger
2nd OWNER: E Bolger
3rd OWNER: J W Howley

TOTE WIN £72.00 PL £21.60, £2.30, £17.10; DF £250.90; CSF £152.33JACKPOT £173.70 - 11.00 w/t, pool £2,547.50

My Notes Analysis Comments In Running
An ordinary hunter-chase in which SPOT THEDIFFERENCE, who still had plenty to do turning for home, closed rapidly approaching the last and quickened clear once he hit the front early on the run-in.
Winning trainer Enda Bolger, also responsible for runner-up Jaywalker, who had every chance, said: "I won a point-to-point on Spot Thedifference at Slanemore last year and bought him on the strength of the feel he gave me that day. He disappointed afterwards and this was the first sign that he might be the horse I thought he was." Hunters Chorus, who still held an advantage at the last, spoiled a Bolger clean sweep by staying on for third place ahead of Millbrook Warrior.
 
Originally posted by Kathy@Nov 17 2007, 06:56 PM
You can probably tell I am definitely not the bravest owner in the world! :shy: :)
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And yet

All I need to do now is work out how I am going to cope when Brendan finds a suitable novice hurdle for The Hawk.

Funny old world.
 
Which is exactly my point, Tetley. I am not the biggest fan of the jumps and have certainly been put off by recent events BUT hurdling is what Bay Hawk is heading for.

A previous horse of mine went hurdling and narrowly missed the most horrendous fall when he jumped a hurdle with the horse infront of him having fallen and was just getting to his feet. My horse jumped the hurdle and then had to jump a horse getting to his feet. I very nearly passed out. I am probably not the only racehorse owner that dreads the day their horse may be a NH statistic that reads the following day in The Racing Post:,

"fell, dead"

Personally, I am really struggling with racehorse ownership at the moment. The insufficient prize money, the worry of injuries, and the cost of keeping horses in training sometimes outweighs the enjoyment I get.
 
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