news Warwick parade showcases the thoroughbred’s versatility

• Eight horse line-up includes Grand National, Gold Cup and July Cup winners

The presence of both a Grand National winner and a July Cup winner in a parade organised by Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) at Warwick Racecourse on Saturday highlights the thoroughbred’s versatility and how adaptable former racehorses can be following their retirement from racing.

A host of famous names familiar to all fans of racing will parade on Virgin Bet Kingmaker Chase Day at Warwick on Saturday 12th February. The parade will take place in the paddock at 12.25pm prior to the first race.

Included in the eight-horse line-up is the 2014 Grand National hero Pineau De Re, who is now enjoying a second career combining dressage and eventing. Also featuring is the Group 1 winning sprinter Limato, whose 14 victories included the 2016 running of the July Cup. Now in the care of renowned showing producer, Kate Jerram-Hunnable, Limato is being prepared for a second year of competition in the show-ring.

Combined the eight horses in the RoR parade won over £4million in prize money before diversifying into a range of different activities for their post racing careers, including showing, dressage, eventing, showjumping and hunting.

As well as Grand National and July Cup winners, the parade also features Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Coneygree, Hennessy Gold Cup winner, Smad Place, Welsh Grand National winner, Miko De Beauchene, dual Cheltenham Festival winner, Un Temps Pour Tout, along with Her Majesty The Queen’s former star of the show-ring Barbers Shop and locally trained family favourite, Thomas Crapper.

Di Arbuthnot, Chief Executive of Retraining of Racehorses (RoR), said: “Our thanks to Warwick and Jockey Club Racecourses for giving us the opportunity to put together a great line-up of horses. RoR Parades are a great way for the public to see first-hand how fabulous these horses look ‘in retirement’ and what they are doing in their second career.

“Each year RoR stages over 40 different competition series across 15 equine disciplines, catering for all levels of ability, from grassroots to elite. The breadth of opportunities now open to former racehorses has the effect of increasing demand within in the wider equestrian market, so that whatever a horse’s ability on the track, there is now a suitable second career option waiting for them when they retire from racing.”