Betfair and Haydock Park Team Up for Kauto Star Statue
- By A.J. Ryder on December 22, 2011 18:59 GMT
After a scintillating performance in the 2011 Betfair Chase, living-legend Kauto Star made history and etched himself even further into the hearts of horse racing fans across the globe. His gutsy, gritty performance over some of the best chasers in Britain – and the reigning Gold Cup champion Long Run – saw him issue a challenge to any other horse in action over timber.
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In honour of that historic event, Haydock Park – the scene of so many of Kauto's incredible triumphs over the years – have teamed up with Betfair to recognize the incredible chasers achievements on course.
The eleven-year-old icon of jumps racing will be commemorated with a statue constructed by sculptor Willie Newton.
Clive Smith, the owner of Kauto Star, spoke to the media on Tuesday and was elated at the news. “I am thrilled at this fantastic gesture... The horse has really captured the public's imagination and hearts throughout his career, never more so than in the Betfair Chase, and it is an honor to have him recognized in this way.
Leading jumps trainer Paul Nicholls declared that “Kauto Star gave me my proudest day in 20 years as a trainer when he won his fourth Betfair Chase and this is deserved recognition for the great horse. It will be a constant reminder of that amazing day.”
Kauto Star will be back in action shortly in the King George at Kempton – the scene where Long Run first got the best of him last year in a rescheduled version of the race run in mid-January. Kauto Star did not jump fluently and looked a bit under the weather on the day.
The Kauto Star vs Long Run narrative should continue through the King George and onto the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March. Kauto's now-famous performance in the Betfair Chase showed that we still haven't seen the bottom of him yet and he continues to laugh in the face of father time.
