Famous Horses

Desert Orchid

admin March 17, 2025

Owned by Richard Burridge and trained by David Elsworth at Whitsbury Manor Racing Stables, in Fordingbridge, Wiltshire, Desert Orchid achieved iconic status in National Hunt racing in the eighties and early nineties. All told, the aptly-named grey gelding, by Grey Mirage out of Flower Child, won 34 of his 70 races over hurdles and fences and amassed just over £650,000 in prize money. In 1983/84, his second season over hurdles, he won six of his eight starts, including the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown Park and, although ultimately well beaten, was actually sent off second favourite for the 1984 Champion Hurdle, behind the redoubtable racemare Dawn Run.

However, it was as a steeplechaser that Desert Orchid was to find lasting fame and, three decades after his retirement, in December 1991, remains the sixth highest-rated steeplechaser since the early sixties, according to Timeform. A sturdy, handsome grey, whose coat turned almost white with age, Desert Orchid was undoubtedly a better horse going right-handed – “a stone better”, according to one of his regular jockeys, Simon Sherwood – but that didn’t stop him from winning a memorable renewal of the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Away from Prestbury Park, his bold, front-running style served him well over distances ranging from two miles to three miles and five furlongs.

Desert Orchid won the King George VI Chase, over three miles, at Kempton four times, in 1986, 1988, 1989 and 1990, thereby setting a record that has only been surpassed by a more recent superstar of modern times, Kauto Star. In 1988, he also won the Tingle Creek Chase, over two miles, and the Whitbread Gold Cup (now the Bet365 Gold Cup), over three miles and five furlongs, both at Sandown and, in 1990, Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse, again over three miles and five furlongs. He died peacefully in his stable in November 2006 at the age of 27.

Trigger

admin March 17, 2025

Foaled in San Diego, California on Independence Day, 1934, and originally named Golden Cloud, Trigger was a horse owned and ridden by ‘King of the Cowboys’, Roy Rodgers. Rogers, born Leonard Skye, starred in 82 Westerns between 1938 and 1951, often alongside George ‘Gabby’ Hayes as his sidekick and his wife, Dale Evans, as his leading lady. A palomino horse – that is, characterised by a golden-coloured and a white mane and coat – Trigger was ridden by Rogers in many of his films and in the Roy Rodgers Show, a television series that ran ran for six seasons between 1951 and 1957.

Although a stallion, Golden Cloud was never bred, but was understudied as ‘Trigger’ by several other palaminos, notably ‘Little Trigger’ and ‘Trigger Jr.’, although the latter only ever appeared in one film, the aptly-title Trigger Jr. in 1950, and was mainly employed for Rogers’ personal appearances around the country. Little Trigger, too, was used as a personal appearance horse, but was trained extensively and could perform dozens of tricks, routines and dressage moves; in fact, he doubled for ‘Trigger’ in every one of Rogers’ films after 1940. In his various incarnations, ‘Trigger’ became the most famous horse in the film industry and, in his heyday, appeared in his own comic book series, Roy Rogers’ Trigger, published by Dell.

Golden Cloud died in at Rogers’ ranch in Apple Valley, California in 1965 and his hide was mounted and put on display at the original Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum, as was that of Trigger Jr., following his death in 1969. Rogers himself died in 1998, Dale Evans in 2001, and the museum closed its doors for good in 2009. Nowadays, the taxidermied remains of Golden Cloud are on display at the John Wayne: An American Experience in Fort Worth, Texas, as are those of Rogers’ dog, Bullet.

Arkle

admin March 17, 2025

Six decades after he ran his last race, in the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day 1966, Arkle remains a hallowed name in National Hunt circles. Owned Anne Grosvenor, Duchess of Westminster and trained by Tom Dreaper at Greenogue, Kilsallaghan, Co. Dublin, Arkle remains the highest-rated steeplechaser in the history of Timeform and was a class apart from his contemporaries.

All told, Arkle won 27 of his 35 races, but 22 of his 26 steeplechases, in which he finished behind just half a dozen rivals. On his first appearance at the Cheltenham Festival, in 1963, he won the Broadway Novices’ Chase, a.k.a. the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, by 20 lengths and, under regular jockey Pat Taaffe, went on to become a force majeure on both sides of the Irish Sea throughout the mid-sixties.

Arkle will always be best remembered for winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup three years running, in 1964, 1965 and 1965. He did so by an aggregate of 55 lengths and on the third occasion was sent off at prohibitive odds of 1/10, making him, far and away, the shortest-priced winner in the history of the ‘Blue Riband’ event. Elsewhere, he won the Irish Grand National, under 12st 0lb, in 1964, the Hennessy Gold Cup (now the Coral Gold Cup) twice, under 12st 7lb on both occasions, in 1964 and 1965 and the King George VI Chase in 1965.

On his return to Kempton Park in 1966, Arkle was beaten just half a length in the King George VI Chase, despite fracturing a pedal bone. He recovered sufficiently to return to training, but never raced again. He was humanely euthanised on May 31, 1970, having suffered from increasingly debilatating athritis in his latter years. Arkle is commemorated by the Arkle Challenge Trophy, a two-mile contest for novice steeplechaser run on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival, which was established in 1969.

Red Rum

admin March 17, 2025

With apologies to fans of Manifesto, who ran in the Grand National a record eight times between 1895 and 1904, winning twice and being placed four times, Red Rum is probably the greatest horse ever to compete in the world-famous steeplechase. Owned by Noel Le Mare and trained by the inimitable Donald ‘Ginger’ McCain, in Southport, Merseyside, Red Rum remains the only horse to win the Grand National three times, which he did in 1973, 1974 and 1977. In the intervening years he finished second, behind L’Escargot in 1975 and Rag Trade in 1976.

On the first occasion, despite being sent off 9/1 joint-favourite, Red Rum was the villain of the piece, overhauling his main market rival, Crisp, ridden by Richard Pitman, in the shadow of the post to win by three-quarters of a length. Crisp made most of the running and, jumping Becher’s Brook on the second circuit, was still 20 lengths clear of Red Rum in second place. In the hands of Brian Fletcher, Red Rum steadily made up the deficit and, on the run-in, Crisp, who was conceding 23lb, started to send out serious distress signals. At the famous Elbow, he started to wander about and slowed considerably, allowing Red Rum to sweep by and win in a new record time.

Fletcher and Red Rum returned to win the National again, under 12 stone, in 1974, beating L’Escargot by 7 lengths. Three weeks later Red Rum also won the Scottish Grand Grand National at Ayr, making him the only horse ever to win both races in the same season. Following his two subsequent defeats at Aintree – by which time Fletcher had been replaced by Tommy Stack after falling out with McCain – he lined up again, as a 12-year-old, in 1977. Carrying top weight of 11 8lb, he was sent off at 9/1 joint-second-favourite and eventually sauntered home 25 lengths ahead of his nearest pursuer, Churchtown Boy.

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Bucephalus

admin March 17, 2025

Not to be confused with the eight-year-old gelding trained by Neil Mulholland, recently the winner of a handicap hurdle at Chepstow, the titular Bucephalus was, in fact, one of the most famous horses in ancient and medieval literature. The cherished warhorse of Alexander III of Macedon, a.k.a Alexander The Great, who succeeded his father, Philip, in 336 BCE, Bucephalus was bred “of the best Thessalian strain” – Thessaly being a traditional region of Ancient Greece, renowned for breeding stock – and may well have been an Akhal Teke, one of the oldest breeds in the world.

The name ‘Bucephalus’ is derived from the Greek words ‘bous’, meaning ‘ox’ and ‘kephalos’ meaning ‘head’, although exactly why he was so-called is a matter of debate. Indeed, medieval illustrations often depict him as an untamed hybrid with three horns on his head. He also had a reputation for consuming human flesh, which Alexander used to his advantage on the battlefield.

According to legend, the supposedly unbreakable Bucephalus was calmed by a young Alexander, who noticed that the horse was, in fact, afraid of his own shadow. By turning Bucephalus towards, rather than away from, the sun, he was able to mount without incident and subsequently ride the horse throughout his lenghty military campaign.

Many myths and legends exist about Buchephalus and he has become an enduring symbol of bravery and loyalty throughout history. Exactly how he met his end is, again, debated, but the consensus of opinion that he died, from his wounds, or from natural causes, following the Battle of the Hydaspes, in modern-day Pakistan, in 326 BCE. Either way, such was the bond between horse and rider that Alexander named one of the two cities he founded on either side of the Hydapses (nowadays Jhelum) River shortly after the battle Boukephala, or Bucephala, in memory of his beloved horse.