Dell Tastic!

       Dell'arca after Winning at Haydock

This morning we have woken to rain at Pond House!  It seems rather strange after several weeks of dry weather but it is most welcome rain in the racing world and hopefully the racecourses will be getting it as well.  The tracks have done a great job in watering in recent weeks to try to provide safe ground but nothing beats natural watering!  While there is nothing significant to have fallen so far, it all helps and with more heavy rain forecast for tomorrow in the forecast hopefully it can make a difference.  Today there is one jumps meeting up at Sedgefield but the stable does not have any runners and I see none of our regular jockeys are in action either.

On the flat there are two afternoon meetings at Beverley and Chepstow while they race this evening on the all-weather at Lingfield at Newcastle and there is no racing action over in Ireland either.  It is however the Tattersalls Store Sales over there so there will be plenty of people looking to by the next potential superstar youngsters!

David announced on his weekly blog yesterday the news that we have decided to retire Dell'arca and I thought I would add my own little tribute.  He is a horse that has nearly been at Pond House as long as me!  He is like part of the furniture here at the yard and is a favourite of many especially of Leanne who rides him every day and Mandy who looks after him.  Bought by Professor Caroline Tisdall as a four year old he won on stable debut at Cheltenham, the Greatwood hurdle in November 2013.  He took us all to the top table on many occasions throughout his career, always performing and he was the winner of eleven races from 78 career starts.  He was placed a further 28 times as well winning over £267,000 in prize money with a rating of 150 at best.  His career record speaks for itself but it is his personality and character for which he his most loved at home.  He absolutely loves life and his daily routine, I just wish I was a bit more like him!  At 13 years old his is still as cheeky and fun everyday as he has always been.  We have never had a better 'work' horse a home and he has always been the one taken on racecourse gallops to give everyone a lead and gauge how a different horse might be going.  Leanne looked forward to riding him everyday and his enthusiasm is infectious, although don't get too close to him from behind as he was known to have a kick if you got too close!  Always playful, he never meant any harm and you couldn't help but laugh as he had a buck or jump around!  That has never changed from day one and he still does it now!  He has done his owner Professor Caroline Tisdall and the stable proud through his long and illustrious career.  I actually think he would be more than happy to carry on racing, but his body is not quite as young as his mind anymore and everyone agreed there was nothing more to gain from continuing to run him.  He goes out in one piece having barely missed a days work in his life and will have an active retirement with Rosie and Ashley who work in the yard and he will join Broadway Buffalo at their home near Bampton.  He will be sadly missed by us all but we are so lucky to have been associated this this super horse throughout his career and he will always hold a special place in our hearts as you don't get many like him.

Watch his debut win the in the 2013 Greatwood Hurdle here:

https://www.racingtv.com/racecards/cheltenham/83517-stanjames-com-greatwood-hurdle-grade-3-handicap?show_all=true&non-runner_display=false

Watch his remarkable final win at Haydock in May 2021 here:

https://www.racingtv.com/racecards/haydock-park/328580-pertemps-network-long-distance-handicap-hurdle-2?show_all=true&non-runner_display=false