Tag: RoR

The very best of Britain’s former racehorses took centre stage last week as the Tattersalls Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) Showing Series reached its thrilling climax across two of the country’s most prestigious equestrian venues.

Royal Highland Show Crowns Scottish Champion

The action kicked off at the Royal Highland Show on Thursday 19 June, where the final of the Tattersalls RoR Open Ridden Scottish Show Series delivered a familiar winner with an inspiring story. Rich Man Poor Man, owned by Morean Hamilton and expertly produced by leading show producer Kristine Douglas, reclaimed his crown as the 2025 Tattersalls RoR Scottish Champion.

This remarkable gelding’s journey perfectly embodies the transformative power of retraining. Formerly trained by Philip Kirby, Rich Man Poor Man’s five-race National Hunt career was unremarkable. However, since hanging up his racing silks in 2017, he has become a show ring sensation. His impressive CV includes being the previous Tattersalls RoR Scottish Champion in 2021 and Supreme Champion at The Jockey Club RoR National Championships in 2022.

Hickstead Hosts Double Finals Spectacular

The series then moved south to the iconic Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby Meeting on Sunday 22 June, where two finals captivated the enthusiastic crowd in the legendary International Arena.

In the Tattersalls RoR Open Ridden Show Series Final, last year’s reserve champions Festive Fare and Rebecca Court (feature image) stepped up to claim the top prize with a polished and composed performance that showcased their partnership at its finest.

The Tattersalls RoR Amateur Final produced an equally compelling winner in An Cathaoir, a one-eyed gelding whose remarkable story touched hearts. Ridden by Victoria Bertorell, their confident display and strong partnership impressed the judges and demonstrated that physical challenges need not limit potential.

With over 50 former racehorses competing at Hickstead alone, the finals showcased the incredible breadth of talent these horses possess – from former flat racers to seasoned National Hunt campaigners, all finding new purpose and success.

Industry Leaders Celebrate Success

David Catlow, Managing Director of RoR, commented: “Tattersalls’ continued support has been key to the success of the RoR Showing Series, providing former racehorses with real opportunities to shine in second careers. It’s a privilege to hold these finals at such prestigious events. The standard this year has been outstanding — a true testament to the dedication of riders, retrainers and owners.”

Alex Mommersteeg, Tattersalls representative, added: “The standard of retraining on display at the RoR finals continues to impress us year after year. It’s incredibly rewarding to see so many former racehorses flourishing in new careers. Tattersalls is proud to support RoR and grateful to everyone who contributes to making the series such a success.”

A Growing Movement

The success of these finals reflects the broader growth of the RoR movement. With over 170 RoR showing qualifiers held annually across Great Britain – from Cornwall to Aberdeenshire – the Tattersalls RoR Showing Series continues to celebrate the versatility and potential of former racehorses.

These world-class venues provide the perfect stage for showcasing the talent and dedication of everyone involved in giving these horses their second chance to shine, reinforcing the growing prominence of former racehorses within the wider equestrian community.

Feature image: Rebecca Court and Festive Fair © Helen Cruden 2025

Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) is delighted to announce that Aria Grace Equine Law has chosen it as their Charity Partner of the Year for 2025. This exciting partnership will see 5% of Aria Grace Equine Law’s revenues from 1 January to 31 December 2025 donated to RoR, supporting its mission to ensure the welfare and future of former racehorses.

Aria Grace Law CIC, a not-for-profit legal firm, is widely respected for its expert commercial legal advice tailored to the equestrian sector. In recognition of its unique model—where 100% of profits are donated to charity—the firm was named “Law Company of the Year” at The Lawyer Awards 2023.

As part of this collaboration, RoR members will gain access to specialist legal resources, including a free webinar in April 2025 on buying a horse safely. Open to everyone, the webinar will cover essential legal topics such as contracts, loaning, rehoming, and purchasing horses—helping owners and riders navigate common legal pitfalls.

David Catlow, Managing Director of RoR, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating:

“We are thrilled to be selected as Aria Grace Equine Law’s Charity Partner of the Year. This collaboration will offer our members much-needed legal support and expertise. We look forward to the upcoming webinars and the positive impact this partnership will have on the RoR community.”

Jodie Seddon, Partner and Solicitor at Aria Grace Equine Law, echoed the excitement:

“I’m delighted to be supporting RoR in 2025. At Aria Grace Equine Law, we are dedicated to offering high-quality, accessible legal services to the equestrian community. Through this partnership, we can support RoR’s invaluable work and provide legal guidance to its members, ensuring they receive the best possible advice.”

This collaboration underscores both organisations’ commitment to safeguarding former racehorses while ensuring the equestrian community has access to trusted legal expertise.

With just one week remaining, the countdown is on for the public to cast their vote on the finalists for the Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) Awards. Particular focus and excitement surround the Sir Peter O’Sullevan RoR Community Impact and The Jockey Club RoR Horse of the Year Awards.

The voting window closes on Friday, 19 January at 5pm, so seize the opportunity to cast your vote and celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of these former racehorses.

The RoR Awards spotlight the exceptional stories of resilience and adaptability as former racehorses embark on new careers, bringing joy and inspiration to people’s lives. To participate in the public vote, watch the captivating videos that showcase the remarkable partnerships of these incredible horses.

The newly established Sir Peter O’Sullevan Charitable Trust RoR Community Impact Award seeks to acknowledge the noteworthy contributions of individuals, former racehorse partnerships, or organisations that have had a substantial impact on people’s lives through their involvement with former racehorses. The finalists and their supporting videos for this prestigious award are below:

– Godolphin and Papineau – Suffolk

– Matt Bannon and Dreamisi – Greater London

– New Beginnings and Goldream – Yorkshire

Launched in 2014, The Jockey Club RoR Horse of the Year Award recognises the outstanding achievements of RoR-registered former racehorses that have smoothly transitioned into new careers spanning various disciplines, highlighting their remarkable versatility. The finalists and their supporting videos for this distinguished award are below:

– Clancy’s Cross owned/ridden by Jenny Bennett – Staffordshire

– Que Sera owned/ridden by Jo Hales – Oxfordshire

– Red Inferno owned/ridden by Hayley Ward – Hertfordshire

All six finalists will gather at the RoR Awards evening at The Jockey Club Rooms on Wednesday 31 January 2024, where the ultimate winners, as voted by the public, will be revealed. The evening will also feature presentations to this season’s RoR Elite Champions in various disciplines, including dressage, eventing, polo, endurance, showing, and hunting.

David Catlow, RoR Managing Director, said:

“The extraordinary stories of each of our finalists highlight not only the adaptability of former racehorses to a wide range of second careers but also the remarkable commitment to the horses’ well-being of so many involved in aftercare. The RoR Awards are an important opportunity to recognise these inspirational thoroughbreds.”

Previous recipients of the Horse of the Year Award include well-known former racehorses such as Liverpool, Monet’s Garden, Beware Chalk Pit, Monkerty Tunkerty, the late HM The Queen’s horse Quadrille, and the incumbent title holder, First Fandango.

The public vote is open now and concludes at 5pm on Friday 19 January. To review all the finalists’ stories and participate in the voting process, visit RoR Events.  The winner will be announced at the RoR Awards evening on Wednesday, 31 January 2024.

In a compelling display of the vibrant second careers that await retired racehorses, Celtic Silver, a 14-year-old gelding, clinched the top spot in the 2023 Ri-Dry RoR Racing to Hunting Challenge.

The culmination of the competition saw six finalists converge on Saturday 18 November, for a thrilling day of hunting with the North Staffordshire Hunt.

After meticulously reviewing entries from across the country, the judging panel selected six finalists for the ultimate showdown.

The title of the best hunter was bestowed upon Celtic Silver, owned and ridden by Sara Cork from Shropshire. Originally a gift to Sara due to his sharp demeanour, Celtic Silver has seamlessly transitioned into the world of hunting.

The pair regularly hunt with the Duke of Beaufort Hunt and serve as the leaders for the Wishful Thinkers in open-level team chases. Sara expressed her delight with the result, highlighting Celtic Silver’s prowess over cross-country fences and adeptness with hounds.

Celtic Silver, whose racing career spanned over nine years under the guidance of Tom Ellis, gracefully retired in May 2021 after a notable stint in point-to-pointing.

As winners of the Ri-Dry Racing to Hunting Challenge, Sara Cork and Celtic Silver received a Ri-Dry RoR Racing to Hunting rug and jacket. Additionally, they secured an invitation to the RoR Awards ceremony at The Jockey Club Rooms on 31 January 2024, where they will be honoured with the prestigious RoR Elite Hunting trophy and a cash prize.

Securing the runner-up position was 13-year-old Golden Loch and Joe Neal from the Ledbury Hunt, followed by Battle Of Shiloh, a 14-year-old ridden and owned by Paul Ikin, in third place. Both the second and third-place finishers received prize money and a Ri-Dry voucher.

Sir Jonathan Clark, Chair of the Judging Panel added:

“Today’s hunting with the North Staffordshire Hunt was not only enjoyable but also a genuine trial for the participants, showcasing their exemplary adaptation to their second careers. Congratulations to all the finalists for their remarkable performance.”

The Ri-Dry RoR Racing to Hunting Challenge stands as one of the diverse disciplines racehorses can transition into after their racing careers conclude. As the official charity for the welfare of retired racehorses, RoR has made a significant impact on the lives of numerous former racehorses.

The charity (RoR) has fostered a growing demand for these equine athletes, establishing prestigious competitions that have become integral to the equestrian calendar.

The RoR also provides educational events for owners of former racehorses and essential welfare efforts, ensuring a safety net for these athletes during their transition from the racetrack to fulfilling post-racing lives.

• A total of 64 classes exclusively for former racehorses
• Includes new revised format that offers British Showjumping classes

Entries are now open for The Jockey Club RoR National Championships, held at Aintree International Equestrian Centre on 23^rd – 26^th August 2023, featuring classes for showing, dressage, arena eventing and showjumping, culminating with the crowning of The RoR Elite Performance Award for Dressage and The Tattersalls RoR Ridden Showing Series Supreme Champion during Saturday’s evening performance.

Generously sponsored by The Jockey Club, the annual extravaganza has previously attracted thousands of former racehorses to enter throughout the years and is the biggest event in Great Britain for showcasing the versatility of the thoroughbred together with the range of activities available to them once retiring from racing.

In 2022, Rich Man Poor Man, ridden by Kirstine Douglas, was awarded the title of RoR Supreme Showing Champion. In his racing career Rich Man Poor Man was trained by Philip Kirby, but did not distinguish himself in five starts under National Hunt rules, pulling up on four occasions. However, since retiring from racing in 2017 to pursue a career in showing Rich Man Poor Man has gone from strength to strength.

This year you will see a number of minor changes to the format of the classes to help streamline the show and to set a sustainable model for the future. A wide range of classes is offered, ranging from newcomer classes open to all former racehorses registered with RoR that do not require prequalification to restricted open classes. The format incorporates British Showjumping classes which run under British Showjumping Club structure, with no additional fees to pay for RoR members, as we look to build our partnerships and provide RoR riders with even more opportunities to compete.

The organisation’s North West Head of Racing and Clerk of the Course at Aintree Racecourse, Sulekha Varma, said:

We are delighted to be welcoming The Jockey Club RoR National Championships back to the Aintree Equestrian Centre this summer. It is always brilliant to see the stars of our sport enjoying a new career away from the track, and the RoR Championships are a brilliant way of showcasing this. We are very much looking forward to hosting them once again in August.”

David Catlow, RoR Managing Director, added: 

We are very much looking forward to this year’s National Championship Show. It provides former racehorses and their owners with an opportunity to compete in a variety of disciplines at the highest level, while also celebrating the former racehorses’ versatility and athleticism. We would not be able to host this event without the support of The Jockey Club as our major sponsor. On behalf of RoR and all the competitors we thank them enormously for their support, as well as the clear demonstration of The Jockey Club’s commitment to the wellbeing of racehorses throughout their lives.”

Entries for The Jockey Club RoR National Championships open at 9am on Monday  5^th June, and will remain open until Tuesday 1^st  August.

For full schedule and to enter click HERE.