It’s a dream! Horse’s blind owner beats odds
HE didn’t see the moment his horse crossed the finish line. But Andrew Gemmell certainly heard and felt it.
The racing enthusiast was born blind and had relied on friends and commentators at the Cheltenham Festival to keep him up to speed with the progress of Paisley Park.
Despite spending the vast majority of the race middle of the pack, the sevenyear-old gelding pulled ahead in the home straight and secured a victory.
It was all the more remarkable as two years ago Paisley Park was so ill with colic that he nearly died.
Mr Gemmell, who described the win as a ‘dream’, could barely contain his excitement as the horse, which had started favourite for the Stayers’ Hurdle, crossed the line in front.
Associates enthusiastically patted the 66-year- old former local government officer on the back as they described the closing stages of the event.
Mr Gemmell punched the air, clapped his hands and jumped up and down with excitement.
Following his horse’s triumph, he said: ‘ This is fantastic and a real dream for me.’ He has owned Paisley Park for four years and said: ‘He means everything to me. I still had hopes [when he trailed during the race] because we know that is the way Paisley Park runs.’
A big fan of the late rock star Prince, he named the horse after a song which was also the name of the singer’s house. Mr Gemmell said he would celebrate his victory with ‘a shandy or two’.
He added: ‘I hope this is the first of many because I will keep coming back. We are so chuffed and we’re all in tears. This has been a brilliant journey and I have enjoyed it all the way. I’ve been to Cheltenham for years and years. It is just something else to be in the winner’s enclosure.’
Today is the final day of Cheltenham Festival. The highlight is the Gold Cup, the second biggest betting race of the year – only the Grand National is bigger. Cheltenham Festival pullout – Centre Pages