Former racehorses are shortlisted for top award

RETIRED racehorses making the most of their new careers in the South West are among those shortlisted for a prestigious award.

The 2018 Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) Awards will take place at the historic Jockey Club Rooms in Newmarket on Wednesday, December 12.

Hosted by the charity’s patron Clare Balding, together with ITV Racing presenter Luke Harvey, the awards acknowledge and celebrate the versatility of former racehorses across a range of disciplines, with prizes given to the elite winners in dressage, polo, eventing, endurance and showing.

The final award to be presented on the night will be the Jockey Clubsponsored RoR Horse of the Year. A long list of 17 contenders has been assembled, with nominations put forward from all around the country via RoR’s network of regional coordinators.

A judging panel comprising of RoR patron Sir Anthony McCoy and Luke Harvey, will review the list and identify four horses to go forward to a shortlist with the eventual winner announced on the night.

Representing the South West will be Jive Master (showjumping), Monkerty Tunkerty (showing and showjumping) and Buckstruther (showing).

Popular chaser Monkerty Tunkerty, owned and ridden by Jess Westwood from Minehead and formerly trained by her, has proved his talents in showing and showjumping since retiring from the track.

Jive Master, owned and ridden by Paige Smart from Devon, started his racing career at six, when he defied double odds and won his first race. Sold out of Ireland for 30,000 euros, the gelding by Marignan went on to run 14 times for Tim Vaughan over hurdles, notching up three wins and three placings.

Completing the region’s trio is Buckstruther, owned and ridden by Wellington-based Jasmine Hosgood and formerly trained by her father Paul. The 16-year-old gelding, by Anshan, waved goodbye to his racing saddle in May 2015, having won ten point-to-point races and three times under rules.

Amassing an impressive haul of accolades in the show ring including at Devon County and Royal Bath & West, as well as qualifying for Hickstead on multiple occasions, the chestnut is now enjoying life on the hunting field.

Also included in the shortlist are:

Burj Hatta (eventing): Owned and ridden by Rachel Casbon and formerly trained by Saeed Bin Suroor.

Fruity O’Rooney (eventing): Owned and ridden by Beccy Green and formerly trained by Gary Moore.

Master Wickham (eventing): Owned and ridden by Claire Lewis and formerly trained by Paul Webber.

Murdoch (eventing and dressage): Owned and ridden by Megan Lewis and formerly trained by Colin Tizzard.

Ponte Vecchio (eventing): Owned and ridden by Stuart Nie and formerly trained by Jim Boyle.

Stockade (eventing): Owned and ridden by Claire Fielding and formerly trained by Sally Duckett.

Follow The Facts (dressage): Owned and ridden by Steph Potter and formerly trained by Nicky Henderson.

Pedregal (dressage): Owned and ridden by Tim Masey and formerly trained by Jim Goldie.

Lampos (showing): Owned and ridden by Jolene Midgley and formerly trained by Julie Camancho.

Billybo (showing): Owned and Ridden by Claire Griffiths and formerly trained by Tim Vaughan.

Desert Joe (showing): Owned by Liz Prowting, ridden by Rebecca Court and formerly trained by Alan King and Sarah Bosley.

Ravenstone Lad (showing): Owned and ridden by Louise Goss and formerly trained by Fiona Kehoe.

Wild West (showing): Owned and ridden by Lizzie Harris and formerly trained by Jonjo O’Neill.

Word Of Warning (showing and unaffiliated eventing): Owned and ridden by Clare Poole and formerly trained by Philip Kirby.

Last year’s winner of RoR Horse of the Year was Beware Chalk Pit and previous winners include Monet’s Garden.

The list of the 2018 nominees reflects the diverse range of backstories for horses that participate in RoR-staged events and that go on to enjoy a fulfilling second career after racing. The final shortlist of four will be announced in the build-up to the RoR Awards night.

‘Jive Master started his career at six, when he defied double odds and won his first race’