The Races - Blog - From racetrack to show hack
Ready Teddy and Blyth Tait competing at Athens in 2004. Image: Barbara Thomson
What do race horses do following their racing career? It is a question that concerns many outside of our industry and it’s fantastic that the racing industry takes rehoming racehorses so seriously. Organisations such as Beyond the Barriers and Off the Track do a stunning job of finding retired racehorses new homes following their racing careers. It is also pleasing to see trainers and owners taking responsibility for their horses following racing, for example, Godolphin’s Lifetime Care program.
Check out some of our favourite ex-racehorses, demonstrating the talent and versatility of thoroughbreds…
Ready Teddy
He captured the hearts of all New Zealanders with his quirky personality and will to please. ‘Ted’, as he was affectionately known by many, began life as Striking Back, although he never raced. He was spotted by the father of equestrian phenomenon Blyth Tait at a pony club event. He was quickly acquired and sent to the UK where Blyth was starting his international eventing career. They started as they would continue throughout their partnership, winning their first outing together. Fast forward a mere 18 months, and the pair won gold at the Atlanta Olympics. They would go on to compete at two more Olympics, win gold at the 1996 summer games and two more golds in the 1998 World Equestrian games, making Ready Teddy the first eventing horse to win gold at both the Olympics and a World Equestrian Games.
Ted has represented New Zealand at more Olympics than any other horse and is a spectacular representation of how versatile thoroughbreds really are.
Arctic Soul
Arctic Soul certainly wasn’t the flashiest horse on the track, failing to finish better than 11th in his four starts, but it was another story when he stepped onto a cross-country course. Following an unsuccessful racing career, Arctic Soul was acquired by Gemma Tattersall. The pair went on to win gold at the 2018 World Equestrian Games. Affectionately known as ‘Spike’, the gelding has some pretty interesting quirks including only allowing people to pat him between his eyes. Touch anywhere else and he’d be sure to let you know he doesn’t like it, usually with his teeth!
Arctic Soul and Gemma Tattersall competing at Burghley. Image: Equipepper.com
Precedence
It’s not only lightly-tried, slow racehorses that make great equestrians. Precedence won close to $2,000,000 in prize money, ran in the top 10 in the Melbourne Cup on four occasions and is now embarking on a very successful show horse career. Over the past 18 months, the former Bart Cummings trained gelding has competed at Royal Shows in Adelaide, Canberra and Sydney and only appears to be getting better.
Following a successful racing career, Precedence is now strutting his stuff in the show ring.
Nightwish
The handsome grey gelding had two trials where he finished close to last in both. Today, at the grand age of 18, Nightwish’s career has been truly remarkable, although it was not on the racetrack! Affectionately known as ‘Mickey’, the gelding’s trainer Barry Munt decided to turn his focus to show jumping after he showed little promise on the track. The pair enjoyed quick success together, winning the Amateur Show Jumping Championship at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre. During his show jumping career, Micky has carried three young riders to compete at the Australian Jumping Championships titles and has won classes at both the Sydney and Adelaide Royal Shows. Micky doesn’t fit the mould as a typical jumping type, but his riders have all credited his success to his competitive nature and love for jumping. At 18-years-old, Micky is still full of life, even throwing in a buck or two when he’s feeling fresh!
Nightwish showing off his impressive jump. Image: Racing Victoria
