| Shock demise of racing legend Best
Mate
 The racing year has been sadly overshadowed by the passing of two
Cheltenham favourites in Rooster Booster and Best Mate.
While he failed to win a race in 2005 this will always be remembered as
the year of Best Mate.
It was supposed to be the year when Matey could have made history as the
first horse to win four consecutive Gold Cups. Injury cost him his big
day at Cheltenham and left the 2005 renewal of jumping’s top race a
somewhat flat affair.
Best Mate was bred by the Costello family in Co. Clare and bought by
Terry Biddlecombe after a point-to-point for the recently retired
furniture import-
er Jim Lewis.
The racing legend won a humble bumper at Cheltenham in 1999 and returned
there in March where he finished second in the Supreme Novices Hurdle. A
chasing career beckoned.
The run of three Gold Cups and two King Georges which fell to Best Mate
made him one of the finest chasers since Arkle but the early hyperbole
about Best Mate being better than Arkle was put in its place with the
laboured nature of his 2004 victory at Cheltenham.
Those who hoped to see Best Mate take on Kicking King trained their eyes
on Exeter on November 1 — a routine race to herald Best Mate’s comeback.
All seemed well until three from home when new jockey Paul Carberry
pulled Matey up — a routine enough occurrence.
But as the post race formalities were being digested in the parade ring
Best Mate collapsed and died with the adorations of the crowd whispering
in his ears.
The death of a legend like Best Mate always overshadows events on the
track and 2005 will be remembered as the year of Best Mate. |
