Desert Orchid, gutsy racehorse

LONDON – Desert Orchid, the front-running grey who captured the hearts of millions of horse racing fans worldwide with his gutsy victories over jumps, died on Monday at age 27.

The flamboyant grey steeplechaser, renowned for his courage and breathtaking jumping, dominated jump racing for a decade, ranking alongside triple Grand National winner Red Rum and triple Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate. Winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1989 and four-time winner of the prestigious King George VI Steeplechase at Kempton Park, the gelding – known as ‘Dessie’ – captivated racing fans from regular bettors to royalty.”To me he was obviously a great friend and was just the greatest horse you could ever wish to ride in a race,” said Simon Sherwood, who rode Desert Orchid to his Gold Cup win and two of his King George victories.”He was brave, tough, intelligent and totally honest and he was arguably the most charismatic racehorse we’ve had for the last decade and more.”Widely reported to be the favourite of royal racing fan Queen Mother Elizabeth, Desert Orchid had 34 victories in a 71-race career.His ashes will be scattered at Kempton close to a statue erected in his honour.Although Desert Orchid had four triumphs in the King George, his Gold Cup victory stands out as his defining race.Beaten in his five previous Cheltenham Festival visits, he appeared to tire on the uphill run to the finish line and was overtaken by Yahoo.But the 10-year-old Desert Orchid responded in the muddy conditions and won by 1 1/2 lengths.”I’ve never known a horse so brave,” Sherwood said.”He hated every step of the way in the (soft) ground and dug as deep as he could possibly go.”Desert Orchid also twice finished third in the Gold Cup and won the Irish Grand National in 1990.His total prize money was 654 066 pounds (about N$9,2 million).”He remained at the top level for a long period of time, doing it the hard way from the front,” Sherwood said.Trying to win the King George for the fifth time in 1991, he fell three fences from the finish.That was his last race.After his retirement, Desert Orchid regularly thrilled fans at the Cheltenham Festival by galloping in front of the stands during the pre-race parade.As his popularity spread, thousands of birthday and Valentine cards arrived at his stables at Whitsbury and Newmarket.His last public appearance was on October 1 at an open day at the National Stud at Newmarket.”We had been involved with this wonderful horse for quarter of a century both in his racing days and retirement,” former trainer David Elsworth said.”Everybody will miss him and our sympathy goes to his adoring public and fan club that never ceased to take opportunities to see him at his public appearances.”Desert Orchid even a jazz band that followed him around.”It was wonderful and he loved it,” part owner Midge Burridge said.”He was in fantastic form.Mentally, he was 100 per cent, completely alert, eating and drinking.I am glad he was perky up to the last.”Paul Fisher, managing director at Kempton Park, said a race named after Desert Orchid has been scheduled for December 27, the day after the King George.”That’s the first running of that particular race and it is sure to be an emotional day,” Fisher said.”He had a great life and will be really missed.”Nampa-APWinner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1989 and four-time winner of the prestigious King George VI Steeplechase at Kempton Park, the gelding – known as ‘Dessie’ – captivated racing fans from regular bettors to royalty.”To me he was obviously a great friend and was just the greatest horse you could ever wish to ride in a race,” said Simon Sherwood, who rode Desert Orchid to his Gold Cup win and two of his King George victories.”He was brave, tough, intelligent and totally honest and he was arguably the most charismatic racehorse we’ve had for the last decade and more.”Widely reported to be the favourite of royal racing fan Queen Mother Elizabeth, Desert Orchid had 34 victories in a 71-race career.His ashes will be scattered at Kempton close to a statue erected in his honour.Although Desert Orchid had four triumphs in the King George, his Gold Cup victory stands out as his defining race.Beaten in his five previous Cheltenham Festival visits, he appeared to tire on the uphill run to the finish line and was overtaken by Yahoo.But the 10-year-old Desert Orchid responded in the muddy conditions and won by 1 1/2 lengths.”I’ve never known a horse so brave,” Sherwood said.”He hated every step of the way in the (soft) ground and dug as deep as he could possibly go.”Desert Orchid also twice finished third in the Gold Cup and won the Irish Grand National in 1990.His total prize money was 654 066 pounds (about N$9,2 million).”He remained at the top level for a long period of time, doing it the hard way from the front,” Sherwood said.Trying to win the King George for the fifth time in 1991, he fell three fences from the finish.That was his last race.After his retirement, Desert Orchid regularly thrilled fans at the Cheltenham Festival by galloping in front of the stands during the pre-race parade.As his popularity spread, thousands of birthday and Valentine cards arrived at his stables at Whitsbury and Newmarket.His last public appearance was on October 1 at an open day at the National Stud at Newmarket.”We had been involved with this wonderful horse for quarter of a century both in his racing days and retirement,” former trainer David Elsworth said.”Everybody will miss him and our sympathy goes to his adoring public and fan club that never ceased to take opportunities to see him at his public appearances.”Desert Orchid even a jazz band that followed him around.”It was wonderful and he loved it,” part owner Midge Burridge said.”He was in fantastic form.Mentally, he was 100 per cent, completely alert, eating and drinking.I am glad he was perky up to the last.”Paul Fisher, managing director at Kempton Park, said a race named after Desert Orchid has been scheduled for December 27, the day after the King George.”That’s the first running of that particular race and it is sure to be an emotional day,” Fisher said.”He had a great life and will be really missed.”Nampa-AP