This is a silhouette of a bronze that I own of the great Desert Orchid,the greatest National Hunt Racehorse of all time.
The Youtube link below is a 90 second video of the closing stages of the 1989 Cheltenham Gold Cup. seen as his greatest ever victory and voted by Racing Post readers as the greatest race of all time
Simon Sherwood, one of the most under-rated jockeys of my life time gives him the most beautiful ride. After the race he said. "I've never known a horse so brave. He hated every step of the way in the ground and dug as deep as he could possibly go". Three cheers were called as Desert Orchid was unsaddled, surrounded by thousands of fans.
Desert Orchid died at the ripe old age of 27 in November 2006. He won more than £650,000 in prize money, back in the late 1980s, winning 4 King George VI Chases at Kempton to add to his numerous other wins, and this, his greatest ever victory. His ashes are buried at Kempton.
Along with Best Mate, Inglis Drever, Big Bucks and Kauto Star, Dessie makes my legends list.
I grew up around racing, both at the track and office. I have family still involved. I loved going to the Victorian racing building, it was filled with the most beautiful portraits of horses. Phar Lap is my racing hero, then he is Australia's legend. Love this, reminds me of a glass sculpture my nan used to have. I wonder what happened to it? Lovely piece of you.
@sugarmuser I've heard of Phar Lap, though am not intimate with his story. I guess all horse racing countries have their icons of the sport, horses, trainers, jockeys and courses. It is such a wonderful sport. I will be stood out in freezing temperatures on saturday!! You are right as well, it is a piece of me. I find this and several others that I own soothing. Can you understand that?
