Black Caviar, Nelly to her friends, won an unprecedented 25th race from 25 starts…Oh to be those owners…. And when I say our horse, I’m sadly speaking as a local, not as an owner…
That was followed by the shock, emotional press conference by her owners and trainer, Peter Moody announcing her retirement. On Saturday Caulfield racecourse gave free admission to allow adoring fans a chance to bid her a final farewell from the racetrack…
There are a variety of reasons why people get into horse racing as owners. For us we had grown up around horses. Tim’s father, the local vet trained the odd racehorse in his spare time… most of them bigger on personality than on winnings… But it was always a dream to have an Australian horse. This followed years of owning a part share in a British racehorse “Dot Com” – the name tells you how long ago that was…!
Dot Com did win, and the excitement of those wins kept us owners going, funding vet bill after vet bill. At one time we were spending more money on swimming hydrotherapy for the horse, than we ever did of the kids swimming lessons! In the end after a final third place, and many disappointments, Dot Com was given away to retire at a millionaires estate in the Shires.
Having been part owners of racehorses over the years we know that finding a winner is something that you dream of, but to find a horse that never loses, well that is blooming’ incredible.
The reality is that most owners don’t own a winner, the stats are stacked against you – we were told that only one in seven thoroughbreds ever win at the racecourse.
We have been on a high this week from our horses’ win on Wednesday, imagine what that would be like if your horse always won? We’d need tranquilisers!
The packed grandstand at Moonee Valley Racecourse for Black Caviar’s 24th win 22nd March 2013
With Black Caviar there was a sense of history in the making and all horse-racing fans have been keen to be part of it… She is truly one of those one-in-a-million horses that is bigger than her sport. Black Caviar has been taken to the hearts of Australians.
We were part of the sell out racecrowd of 30,000 in March to see her win her 24th race. You could not get into Moonee Valley Racing Club for love nor money without a ticket that day….
The atmosphere was electric, there was talk even then that this would be her last race ever on Victorian soil… The racecourse was decked out in Black Cavier racing colours of salmon and black dots. The crowd were given sun vizors and fans with I?BC… She even has her own range of merchandise…
Nelly was racing in the last race of the day at 9.50pm, a time that was carefully scheduled to allow for TV coverage at half time of the Australian Football League’s first round clash of Essendon vs Adelaide. This alone shows the public interest in her, I can’t think of many things that would be allowed to interrupt the half-time footy commentary…
This leaves the punters plenty of time to get a bet on, although it’s hardly worth it. The nation’s favourite was the Bookies $1.05 favourite that day…
Black Cavier enters the race track and canters up along the rails so everyone can get a good view. Everything they do with her is designed to share her with the public…The public go wild, everyone cheers loudly…
The race was over in less than 90 seconds but in those few seconds BC showed her class as she effortlessly galloped home well ahead of the pack…building a record beyond compare… To an explosion of salmon and black confetti and everyone was happy, well maybe not the owners of the losing horses…
The story of Black Cavier is more than a horse. Last weekend Black Cavier made her first appearance as a retired horse at Caulfield racecourse, Victoria. Not that this will be a quiet retirement….This will be the first of many public appearances and not to mention the string of stallions queuing up…
The owners have won nearly $8 million AUS and still counting… No need to give this one away to the local millionaire, they have become the local millionaires’. It is the end of an era before BC or after BC… We can but dream with our Little Miss Hussy… It’s one out of one and everything else is a bonus!
We’re unlikely to see such a super star racehorse on these shores for quite a while…Congratulations Black Cavier and everyone involved with her, enjoy your retirement!
Caulfield Race Day: Saturday, 27 April 2013
Little Wandering Wren
1 comment
Well the word around the paddock was that BC had heard Little Miss Hussy is on her way up, so she decided to step down! Well you can dream can't you? 😉
Black Cavier is a legend and rightly so…loved your tribute to her.
Good luck with your next race. 😀