Monthly Archives: November 2011

A quote famously attributed to Richard Branson states that "Records are made to be broken. It is in man's nature to continue to strive to do just that." And judging by the performance of Rapid Redux at Mountaineer Park in Chester, West Virginia, horses can strive to break records too. In a race that left competitors in the dust, the gelding notched up his 20th consecutive win, breaking the 19-race records set by both the legendary Zenyatta and lower-grade mare from New Mexico, Peppers Pride.

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Sired by Indian Charlie out of Playa Maya, Uncle Mo was foaled in Kentucky on 10 March 2008, going on to compete undefeated in his two-year-old season in 2010. This spirited American champion thoroughbred racehorse gathered quite a following during his relatively short career, and many were saddened by the news that Uncle Mo is to retire from horse racing. The decision was made when blood tests revealed an elevated count of the enzyme gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) – a condition which is likely to escalate with the rigors of training and racing. While this is not a recurrence of the liver disease that plagued Uncle Mo earlier this year, causing him to miss out on the Triple Crown series, it nevertheless puts him at risk of ill health and liver damage, so his retirement is deemed to be in his best interests.

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Prompted by the tragic deaths of two horses at the 2011 Grand National, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) completed a thorough review of the annual event, publishing thirty recommendations to improve the conditions and safety of the race which is held at Aintree. Age and experience are crucial factors in an event that carries the heightened risk of the Grand National. In future, horses will need to be seven-years old to enter the race, and it has been suggested that all entrants must have finished at least in fourth place in a steeplechase covering the distance of three miles or more.

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