FAIR ALONG, who excelled at all disciplines, winning well over £400,000 in prize-money for owner Alan Peterson and trainer Philip Hobbs, has died of colic at the age of 11.
The gelding, who was last seen finishing 14th in the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival on his 67th start, having recorded his 16th victory at Newbury in November, contracted the illness on Monday and died at Langford Veterinary Services near Bristol.
Fair Along won at Grade 2 level five times but his most memorable performances were in defeat, runs which included a second in the 2006 Triumph Hurdle, filling the same place in the 2007 Arkle and third in the 2008 Champion Chase. On the Flat he was runner-up in the 2007 Chester Cup and third in the Cesarewitch the same year.
Hobbs said: "He went up to Langford because of colic and unfortunately ended up dying there. Usually these things right themselves but unfortunately in this case it didn't. The whole yard is desperately upset. He was such a star.
"He has been an amazing horse to be so adaptable over all sorts of distances, hurdles and fences, and Flat as well, being placed in a Triumph Hurdle, a Cesarewitch, an Arkle, a Champion Chase and a Chester Cup. He probably just missed out on winning a really big race on several occasions."
what a CV he had, must be incredible owning a horse like that, you can run him in virtually any kind of race, flat hurdles or fences all year round and he'll give you a run for your money
probably was too small to jump a fence, but he didn't know that, brave as a lion
what a CV he had, must be incredible owning a horse like that, you can run him in virtually any kind of race, flat hurdles or fences all year round and he'll give you a run for your moneyprobably was too small to jump a fence, but he didn't know that
Genuinely saddened. If any of them deserved a long and happy retirement it was this old boy.
Like most people, I was sucked into this game by a superstar. In my case the incomparable Dessie. However, as the years in which you're immersed in the game pass, whilst you never fail to be thrilled by a Best Mate, a Kauto or an Istabraq, what grows is an admiration for those fellows who often fall short of the very best, but who can be relied upon to give their all - too often in defeat - every time they set foot on the track, regardless of what is asked of them. Fair Along was such a horse and whilst most of us dream of owning the next superstar that will bring new converts into the game, what would give me the most pleasure would be to be associated with next Fair Along. Happily, this thread shows that I'm not alone.
Genuinely saddened. If any of them deserved a long and happy retirement it was this old boy.Like most people, I was sucked into this game by a superstar. In my case the incomparable Dessie.However, as the years in which you're immersed in the game pa