“Not now dad, but sooner or later you ought to consider writing a book about the story of you and Mister McGoldrick. I don`t know everything, because you kept a lot of it to yourself, but what I do know, together with what I would like to know, should make a pretty good read for me and those who followed McG`s career over the years.
I think my daughter could well be right, and I might just consider doing so in the months ahead.
But now is NOT the time to talk about me, because my best pal McG has just passed away at the age of 27.
If there had been a funeral, this would have been my eulogy.
A letter from a North Yorkshire veterinary practice in May 1999 advised this horse had a “severe skeletal problem” and would never make a racehorse. I`ve still got that letter !!
Undeterred, this horse did eventually race, but in late 2001, after moderate performances on the flat, the advice given was to send him to the sales and if an offer of £500 was bid, then take the money and run.
Hardly a credible profile then, for a horse later to be nominated for a “Modern Greats” award.
Fast forward TEN years to Wetherby racecourse on Boxing Day 2011 when Racecourse Manager Jonjo Sanderson, in a public address, confessed to being “extremely privileged” to be able to honour the career of this “marvellous ambassador for NH racing, as, just retired, this horse strode round the parade ring, then cantered in front of the main stand, to a tremendous reception from the large crowd gathered to be part of this very special occasion.
His CV will forever show that he raced 91 times….TEN times on the flat, and EIGHTY ONE races under NH rules, in which time he earned £372,366.
Mister McGoldrick turned out to be a very special racehorse indeed
In his early days with Sue Smith, the racing public in their thousands soon began to warm to his talent for attacking his fences, and throughout his career, in both victory and defeat, his increasingly adoring followers continued to marvel at his prodigious jumping and never say die attitude to racing.
Everyone came to love Mister McGoldrick, I`ve got the emails and letters to prove it, and this stalwart, at the age of eleven, eventually had his big day at the Cheltenham Festival in 2008, a result which warmed the hearts of the press, TV presenters, and the vast majority of the whole NH racing fraternity.
He was never going to be good enough to win a Cheltenham Gold Cup, as history will tell that his overall performances fell just short of the very top drawer.
But whatever he lacked, he always gave his best, and from such lowly beginnings, the eventual fairy tale success story of Mister McGoldricks superb racing career, will be remembered for ever.
Jonjo Sanderson was right in his public address to the many thousands gathered at Wetherby on that Boxing Day of 2011 when he said
There could be no finer example of everything National Hunt racing stands for, than Mister McGoldrick.
Thankyou Mister McGoldrick for enlightening my life, and also the lives of thousands of his other loyal followers.
Richard
