14-Year-Old Veteran Ends Career On Winning Note

The career of one of the world’s oldest race horses still in competition has ended on a high in England.

The Tatling, who is an unbelievable 14-years-old, has posted victory in his final race start at Wolverhampton.

The Perugino gelding won the race by a short head in what was his 176th race start.

Trainer Milton Bradley was thrilled that The Tatling was able to mark a great end to a fantastic career.

“I know it was only a small race, but what a wonderful story,” Bradley said.

“The horse is still a star in our eyes.

“He’s one of those you drop on by mistake and spend the rest of your life looking for another one half as good.”

The Tatling is best known for his 2004 victory in the King’s Stand Stakes, which is the British leg of the Global Sprint Challenge.

“We learnt how he liked to come through horses and use that turn of foot in the last furlong. That’s how he won the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot,” Bradley said.

“When we went there we thought if we finish in the first half we’ll be lucky and then for him to go and win it and win it quite easily was something marvellous.”

The Tatling’s connections opted to continue racing the horse until the ripe old age of 14 because he continued to enjoy competing.

“If the horse didn’t like racing and wanted to be retired two years ago, we’d have done it,” the trainer said.

“We tried to retire him and he didn’t want to know. He was so miserable.”

Bradley said he will do everything he can to ensure that The Tatling continues to receive the mental stimulus he needs by ‘going out and seeing life’ regularly.

 

 

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