Good morning all,
As expected, horse racing behind closed doors ceased quickly across the Irish Sea and I doubt we will be seeing the sport in the next month either.
Time then to take a trip down memory lane to look at some of the legends of the turf and that’s what I will be doing in this week’s piece.
Which horse got you hooked into the sport of horse racing? For many of a certain generation it will have been Red Rum. In my case it was Sea Pigeon.
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From Kentucky To Malton
Sea Pigeon began his life at a Kentucky stud in 1970. Owner/breeder John ‘Jock’ Whitney sent the well bred colt to England to be trained by Jeremy Tree. A 2-year-old racecourse debut win at Ascot in the hands of Lester Piggott and it seemed like the juvenile could go on to emulate his sire Sea Bird and win the Epsom Derby.
Things didn’t really go to plan for the ‘highly strung’ colt the following year and he could only finish seventh in the 1973 Derby and fourth at Royal Ascot.
Sold at the end of that season. He was bought by Scottish Wine & Spirit merchant Pat Muldoon who placed him with Cumbrian trainer Gordon Richards. After the inevitable gelding operation. His first two seasons with Richards provided only modest success for the owner on the flat and over hurdles and nothing suggested he would become the best dual-purpose horse of my lifetime.
A Remarkable Transformation
All that was about to change. Sea Pigeon kicked off the 1976-77 season with an impressive 5 length win at Ayr in October, carrying 12-7 in a handicap. After being beaten by Lanzarote over 2m 4f at Kempton, owner Pat Muldoon transferred all his horses from Gordon Richards to Malton trainer Peter Easterby. The change of scenery would see a remarkable transformation in his career.
Sea Pigeon made his debut for that stable in the Embassy Handicap Hurdle at Haydock, a recognised trial for the Schweppes (Betfair) Hurdle. Carrying 12-2 that day he stalked a big field of hurdlers. After a number of mistakes down the back he seemed to be going nowhere and coming into the straight, he was still last. Despite being eleventh two out, and only seventh at the last, Sea Pigeon eventually ran away from his field to win by seven lengths.
From Haydock, Sea Pigeon went for the Champion Hurdle. The prevailing wisdom was that he could not act on soft going all his best form up to that point had come on good or even firm ground. Given those ground concerns jockey Jonjo O'Neill took him out as wide as it was possible to go whilst the rest of the field, including stablemate and eventual winner Night Nurse, who was also thought to hate testing going, went the inner route. A combination of his wide trip, heavy going, and the 2m1f trip saw his race come to an end at the last and he finished an 8 length fourth.
Sea Pigeon's season wasn’t over, as he went to Aintree and defied 12-6 to win a handicap hurdle at the Grand National Meeting and to complete a remarkable season, he also added the Scottish Champion Hurdle later that month.
From Hurdles To Flat
Sea Pigeon's flat career also started to take off with a succession of wins in top handicaps. He won the Chester Cup in 1977 and 1978, and the Ebor Handicap carrying 10-0, which is still a record in 1979 when ridden once again by hurdles partner Jonjo O'Neill.
Sea Pigeon missed the early part of the 1977–78 jumps season after being injured in the Colonial Cup in America. However, he returned in the spring to finish runner-up to Monksfield in the Champion Hurdle. Before going on to win a second Scottish Champion Hurdle.
In the following season, his best performances came when beating Birds Nest in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle and finishing second once again to Monksfield in the Champion Hurdle
He’s won it at last
One of the extraordinary things about Sea Pigeon was that, despite winning two Chester Cups and an Ebor under top weight, he never prospered over trips longer than two miles over hurdles.
He seemed destined to never win a Champion Hurdle. However, in 1980 the distance of the Champion Hurdle was shortened to 2m. Just as importantly it saw the removal of the steep climb up past the winning post
His chance had come and BBC racing commentator Peter O'Sullevan could utter the words “He’s won it at last”. When winning the Champion Hurdle at his fourth attempt beating old rival Monksfield by 7 lengths.
The following season he was given an ultra-confident ride by John Francome to win his second Champion Hurdle.
You watch both his Champion Hurdle wins here.
Probably the best-known racehorse after Red Rum and Arkle was retired just days before his hat trick bid in the 1982 Champion Hurdle, having not got over a virus he had caught at the end of the previous season.
At his best when covered up and produced as late as possible to win his race. If the Champion Hurdle distance had been shortened earlier, he would probably have won three or four Champion Hurdles.
A winner of 21 races from 40 starts over jumps and 16 races from 45 starts on the flat. He enjoyed another 18 years of happy retirement before passing away in 2000.
The horse that had captured the hearts of tens of thousands of racing fans was buried at Peter Easterby's stable, next to his stable mate and rival Night Nurse.
Until next time.
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It was a great time for hurdlers, there was some really great battles at Cheltenham we also had Bula and Comedy Of Errors. I was lucky enough to see them all, I also saw Persian war win his last Champion. Not many people would remember that they had to go round the back of the Cabbage Patch. My favourite by the way was Monksfield
Sea Pigeon flew those hurdles in that vid; that and the ability to quicken off a strong pace was unbeatable.
…and dont forget Golden Cygnet who would probably have turned out to the best of them all. He was running all over Sea Pideon and Night Nurse before fatally falling in the Scottish Champion hurdle.
All great horses and very fond memories. I loved all of them and yes, it was a golden era that we will never see the like of again.
For me, there were so many that hooked me in.
When it’s in your blood, it is there for the rest of your life. My first ever bet, when I was about 12, was placed by my sister’s boyfriend. We used to have competions in picking winners and one day, after I had earnt 7 shillings and sixpence, for washing a neighbours car, I asked him to put a half a crown (2s 6d) on a first time out 2 year old for me.
I think I liked the trainer and jockey, but also just the name of the horse. It wasn’t one that anybody will know, but Photo Flash won at 25/1 and I was in clover…at least I would have been, because the boyfriend claimed he hadn’t put the bet on and gave me my money back…never really believed him of course, but I was hooked.
During those early days we had the likes of Humble Duty, Right Tack, Song, Altesse Royale, Royal Palace and many others that I could fill a book with. I also tend to remember all of those that looked brilliant in their grade as well..Sica Dan was one one of the fastest horses you will ever see, but over a maximum of 4 and half furlongs. Anything further and he was in trouble.
Cawston’s Pride was another brilliantly quick 2 year old, but the filly didn’t really train on, she was very fast though.
And of course Lester and Rafingora were virtually unbeatable at Epsom, over 5F regardless of weight.
Such great memories.
There are of course similar stories throughout everybody’s experiences in racing, but I bet all of you remember the early days with great fondness.
We are so privileged, as every season, under both flat and national hunt rules, our game continues to give us more and more amazing stories.
Where would we be without it..maybe we are about to find out, let’s hope not.
When it comes back, may it go on forever and give all of the youngsters in the game today, as many wonderful memories as the sport of kings, has given me.
Lester wouldn’t be happy..Raffingora had 2 f’s not one…stupid boy.
An interesting couple of coincidences with your history Rick. I remember having my first bet before the age of 12 – the earliest one I recall was on Ribero in the 1968 Irish Derby who won at 100-6 (I think) so my shilling made me quite rich at the time. However I was aged 12 when I first attended a race meeting. We were on holiday on the South coast in 1969 and went to Glorious Goodwood and watched the racing from Trundle Hill. I remember a couple of winners – Douane and Cheval but also a noticeable loser. The aforementioned Raffingora, ridden by Lester Piggott, was beaten in a 3 runner race. In fact Lester had to wait until the final race of that meeting for his only winner despite riding umpteen favourites. I also remember patting a horse as we left. His lad told me it was Raffingora but I’ve wondered until this day whether that was true or a wind-up. Raffingora went on to set a world record over 5f the following year. I was hooked from that time on and, now more than ever, retirement allows me to see so many of the current day greats, flat and jumps
Hi Graham,
Lester new what he was doing in the ’68 Irish Derby didn’t he.
He had gotten off Sir Ivor, who was odds on for the race after his Epsom victory.
Big hint there..I was with you on Ribero as well by the way…go on Lester!