Cheltenham Festival
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For those who want to re-watch the Mick Fitz Morning Line tribute, the link is
https://twitter.com/Channel4Racing/status/617621048255647744 (hopefully the vid stays there).
There's also a nice 21 page Timeform piece on him here
http://en.calameo.com/read/0003624651178294b21c3?authid=sTw8gFCf75sa
For me personally, I was absolutely gutted when I first saw the news break. When I think of Kauto, I'll always think straight away to Haydock 2011. For me, without a doubt, that it my personal sporting highlight (not just racing highlight). The sheer delight of the entire crowd who were there that day is something that'll stay with me for a long time. I've got some really dodgy mobile phone video coverage from the parade ring afterwards, filming Nicholls when the Channel 4 cameras had stopped rolling, and he was having great banter with the crowd, you could tell how much it meant to him.
That's what sets racing (National Hunt in particular) aside for me, compared to other sports like football. On that day he wasn't fancied, people had written him off and probably backed something else, but there was no petty arguing, looking through rose tinted glasses or bitterness by those who lost a bet, everyone in racing was delighted to see him back again and everyone was jumping for joy despite being a lot lighter in the wallet.
I remember the thread on here around that time
http://community.betfair.com/cheltenham2011/go/thread/view/113609/28698877/kauto-star?liveView=0
I have to admit to have only started watching racing around 2007, and my first ever memory of Kauto was his last fence mistake against L'Ami. My first real racing memories were Kauto and L'Ami, Black Jack Ketchum being stuffed by Blazing Bailey when his form figures were 1111111 and Well Chief stuffing Ashley Brook in the Game Spirit after 2 years off - all of those were January and February 2007.
Just wished I could have seen Kauto's Tingle Creeks live as at the time as I didn't appreciate the fact he went 2m, 3m and then back to 2m; I've only ever known him as a 3m chaser. It was horses in 2007 like Kauto, Well Chief and Exotic Dancer that got me in to racing to begin with. Have to admit that I always had a soft spot for Exotic Dancer because I felt sorry for him always being in Kauto's shadow.
Anyways, far too many memories for me to waffle on on here. All I know is that for me personally, races like the Betfair Chase and the King George have lost some of their star quality in recent years with no Kauto, which shows what impact he has had on those two races in particular. As good as this current crop of 3m chasers look, I don't think they'll capture the imagination as much as the Kauto, Denman, Imperial Commander, Long Run days, but you never know.
I doubt I'll ever see another like him. His longevity, adaptability and his ability to bounce back after being written off is what sets him apart from all the rest and will be sorely missed.
https://twitter.com/Channel4Racing/status/617621048255647744 (hopefully the vid stays there).
There's also a nice 21 page Timeform piece on him here
http://en.calameo.com/read/0003624651178294b21c3?authid=sTw8gFCf75sa
For me personally, I was absolutely gutted when I first saw the news break. When I think of Kauto, I'll always think straight away to Haydock 2011. For me, without a doubt, that it my personal sporting highlight (not just racing highlight). The sheer delight of the entire crowd who were there that day is something that'll stay with me for a long time. I've got some really dodgy mobile phone video coverage from the parade ring afterwards, filming Nicholls when the Channel 4 cameras had stopped rolling, and he was having great banter with the crowd, you could tell how much it meant to him.
That's what sets racing (National Hunt in particular) aside for me, compared to other sports like football. On that day he wasn't fancied, people had written him off and probably backed something else, but there was no petty arguing, looking through rose tinted glasses or bitterness by those who lost a bet, everyone in racing was delighted to see him back again and everyone was jumping for joy despite being a lot lighter in the wallet.
I remember the thread on here around that time
http://community.betfair.com/cheltenham2011/go/thread/view/113609/28698877/kauto-star?liveView=0
I have to admit to have only started watching racing around 2007, and my first ever memory of Kauto was his last fence mistake against L'Ami. My first real racing memories were Kauto and L'Ami, Black Jack Ketchum being stuffed by Blazing Bailey when his form figures were 1111111 and Well Chief stuffing Ashley Brook in the Game Spirit after 2 years off - all of those were January and February 2007.
Just wished I could have seen Kauto's Tingle Creeks live as at the time as I didn't appreciate the fact he went 2m, 3m and then back to 2m; I've only ever known him as a 3m chaser. It was horses in 2007 like Kauto, Well Chief and Exotic Dancer that got me in to racing to begin with. Have to admit that I always had a soft spot for Exotic Dancer because I felt sorry for him always being in Kauto's shadow.
Anyways, far too many memories for me to waffle on on here. All I know is that for me personally, races like the Betfair Chase and the King George have lost some of their star quality in recent years with no Kauto, which shows what impact he has had on those two races in particular. As good as this current crop of 3m chasers look, I don't think they'll capture the imagination as much as the Kauto, Denman, Imperial Commander, Long Run days, but you never know.
I doubt I'll ever see another like him. His longevity, adaptability and his ability to bounce back after being written off is what sets him apart from all the rest and will be sorely missed.
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Nice post, wellchief.
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Ah, but that's the beauty of the sport pal, you'll get new favourites.
I was the same in 1988/89, when my love affair with Dessie began, I never thought I'd see the like of him again. And you don't, there's no love like first love. But I tell you what, there'll be others along very soon to capture your heart. I was there for all three of Matey's CGCs and wept in my office when I heard the news from Exeter. More recently I was as swept up as you in the Kauto/Denman years and felt last weeks loss keenly. I'd've loved to see Kauto and Dessie go at it on Boxing Day, you couldn't pick it with confidence. With the crop of outstanding young chasers that appear to be on the horizon, it won't be long until you have a new love - I think I may already have, who could fail to be thrilled with the way Coneygree won his CGC? So chin up pal, the best might well be ahead of us. |