We went to Ascot sales this week and I saw a side of racing that I really don't like. Church Island an Irish trained horse who has won around £300K in his career was entered for the sale sold as he stands. For non auction goers this means he is not being sold open to the vet, if a horse fails a vet then the sale doesn't have to go through, eg you pay your money and you take your chance on him.
I really wanted to see him as as he is a 'name' in our house and it isn't often you get to see a horse that successful up close and personal. As a horse owner I was desperate to get my hands on him and I have to confess a small part of my romantic soul hoped that we could buy him for a useful job running for us and then retire him with dignity.
Well, what can I say, I don't want to tar everyone with the same brush but often the Irish horses in the sales are shown a bit in the rough. Personally I don't mind this as I like to see a horse that has been out in the paddock and generally living like a horse, however a horse person can see a horse that is healthy with a bloom to the coat even if it's dirty and hairy, a bright eye and a general bit of sparkle about it, compared to something that looks a bit dull and uninterested in life. Church Island unfortunately to me fell in to the later category. He was a real gentleman in the stable but he reminded me a bit of a favourite old teddy bear, fluffy and a bit battered around the edges. For a 12 year old I would have put him as late teens easily. Their demeanour can be a lot to do with where they are, and the journey they have had over here, and I'm not saying he was being badly treated as the lad with him clearly had a very soft spot for him. What annoys me and makes me really sad is that he was there in the first place. To me a horse that has won his owners £300K in prize money owes them nothing, he deserves the best spot in the nearest paddock where he gets the most carrots from the people walking past. The retirement in the home for ex-race horses where he parades on the open days and people come up and feed him polos and tell him that they once won £50 on him and took their girlfriend out to dinner and now they are married with two kids. Or the housewife who used to scream him home on the TV while the kids rode him over the last on the back of the sofa.
He categorically does not deserve to be at Ascot racehorse sales being sold for £3,000 as he stands. I know who bought him but I don't know who he is if that makes sense. I just hope it was one of his former connections who will give him the retirement he deserves, or someone who wants a nice horse to explore the countryside on where they both can look at the hedges and dream of the days when they were flying over them.
I wish you luck Church Island.
No comments:
Post a Comment