Rescued... by a colt-caller
Gelding was set for glue factory until a horse whisperer cured him by phone
A FAILED racehorse destined for the knacker’s yard was saved by ancient lore – with a very modern twist.
Jockey Patrick Magee says his six-year-old gelding Anthem Royale was cured by a faith healer – over the telephone.
The once-promising horse kept bursting blood vessels in his lungs and his frustrated owner had given up on him. But Patrick offered €50 for a horse that once cost €30,000, and called in the healer.
‘My father phoned a local man who we have used before to stop animals bleeding. We rang him, he asked us to describe the horse, what colour its face was, whether the horse was male or female and its age. It was a short phone call,’ he explained.
‘There weren’t any herbs involved and I don’t know if my father paid him or not. Anthem Royale has never bled since.
‘There was one phone call and that was it. He could bleed again but if he does we will get it done again.’
The local faith healer – who didn’t wish to be named – needed no other information apart from the horse’s description. The horse didn’t have to come to the phone, which was a landline. It is not known whether a mobile would have been equally effective.
Mr Magee Sr had used the healer before for animals, said Patrick, and local people had also used his services to deal with minor personal health complaints.
‘The man with the cure is a local man who does this for local people. People can be sceptical but you have to believe in these things for them to work. I would always get it done. We have gone to this man for animals bleeding before and it worked. Some people go to him if they have sprained ankles.’
Anthem Royale’s racing career got off to a promising start. He fin- ished second on his first ever outing two years ago in a point to point race, convincing a wealthy American to pay €30,000 for him.
But in five races on the track, the horse was placed only once. And last July he pulled-up during a race at Bellewstown. Patrick said: ‘He was bursting blood vessels and his last three performances were poor. The lungs fill up with blood, it stops the horse from breathing and it is seriously painful.
‘I wanted to take a chance on him… he was going to a factory basically. I said to the fella taking him to the factory, “I’ll give you €50 for him.”
‘I knew if I could get him back right he was a good horse. Everything was perfect with him besides the bursting of the blood vessels.’
And it worked. Last month, Anthem Royale raced in a threemile point to point in Tallanstown, Co. Louth, with Patrick in the saddle. There were 11 horses in the
‘I have taught him to chill out and relax’
race and Anthem Royale won ‘by a distance’ – more than 20 lengths.
His next race is a point to point at Fairyhouse on May 22.
Patrick, who has been breaking in horses at his Glassleek Stables in Shercock, Co. Cavan, for the past five years, says he won’t sell Anthem Royale.
‘Basically, I am giving him a second chance. I have worked on him a bit differently.
‘I have taught him to relax and chill out a bit more. I ride him out over the fields, jumping walls and ditches. I take him to Mornington Beach. I mix it up and I take him different places.
‘I don’t want to sell him. We’ll keep him here. He’ll stay at point to point and will live out his days here – unless I get an offer I can’t refuse.’