A RETIRED, "courageous" racehorse from Andover, which finished runner-up in a Grand National, is enjoying a second career in showjumping and is due to compete in the national championships at Aintree.
Two-time Cheltenham Festival winner, Balthazar King, retired from racing in 2016 but is now "happily enjoying" a second career in showjumping under the care of his rider, Michael Andrews, and local Thoroughbred retrainer, Lucinda Sims.
The 20-year-old Andover-based horse is due to take part in the Open Showjumping 70cm and 80cm classes at The Jockey Club RoR National Championships in Aintree on Tuesday, August 20.
The Jockey Club RoR National Championships is Great Britain’s largest event exclusively for former racehorses, with six days of competition across various levels, including classes in dressage, arena eventing, showjumping, and showing.
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A remarkable 306 former racehorses are entered to compete, with legends of the sport now competing on a level playing field in a second career with those less successful on the racecourse.
Balthazar King, known as 'BK', first moved into hunting after retiring from racing, but now in his older years, enjoys giving his all to unaffiliated showjumping, demonstrating the extraordinary versatility of Thoroughbreds.
Michael, a 28-year-old social media manager, who bought a house in Hampshire just so he could be closer to Lucinda’s Harroway Retraining Stables, where Balthazar King resides, had competed with BK in a series of local showjumping competitions.
After a number of second and third-placed finishes, the pair dream of winning their first red rosette together at The Jockey Club RoR National Championships next week.
He said: "I was BK’s number one fan during his racing career, so it has been an honour to have him for the past two years in racing retirement.
"He was a courageous and brave racehorse, but now I get to see his softer side and love for jumping."
In a racing career that spanned eight years, Balthazar King’s track highlights include two victories in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham, accruing career earnings of nearly £500,000 under the guidance of racing trainer Philip Hobbs.
However, when returning to the Grand National in 2015 having finished runner-up the previous year, he sustained a potentially life-threatening injury when fracturing four ribs and puncturing a lung. Whilst a career in racing subsequently came to an end, through dedicated care and rehabilitation he is now thriving in his second career.
Rupert Arnold, executive consultant of RoR, said: "The Jockey Club RoR National Championships truly showcases the versatility of the Thoroughbred and demonstrates the incredible lives they lead after retiring from racing.
"The show continues to grow each year, epitomising the exceptional commitment and passion shown by those responsible for every horses’ wellbeing in aftercare."
Retraining of Racehorses (RoR), British racing’s official aftercare charity, is devoted to ensuring the welfare of racehorses when they retire from racing, and Balthazar King’s story is an example of the variety of second careers former racehorses enjoy.
More than 2,000 racehorses leave the sport each year, and like people changing jobs, these horses learn new skills and adapt to new environments. Not all second careers involve competition, others provide therapy or are equally happy leisure riding or hacking.
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