There comes a time in life when you’ve done enough, had enough and retirement is both the sensible and pleasant option. Even in racehorses the ability and desire to compete wanes with the passing of the years but one horse continued well after his contempories had hung up their racing plates. Not only that, in his golden years he found form that was nothing short of astounding. Enter Mac Vidi.
A bay gelding foaled in 1965 (his own sire was foaled way back in 1947) Mac Vidi was seen as being nothing more than just a bit of fun for his West Country owner-trainer-breeder, Pam Neal.
Mac Vidi took to racing like many before him and many afterwards, in a modest way. He won his share of small races, he was placed enough times to keep everyone happy and occasionally he had a bad day and finished down the field. And so it continued year after year.
Mac Vidi was far more effective at three miles, and in his last five years he never ran in anything shorter than that, having faced less distance only a handful of times in the preceding years. In fact, so effective was he at exactly three miles, Mac Vidi raced beyond that distance on only three occasions, all in his best ever season, which we will come to shortly.
Back in the day racing was far different with handicaps being far more prominent with fewer conditions and graded races about. This suited Mac Vidi as did his indifference to any ground conditions, being able to run, and win, on any surface from heavy to firm. Also, with the exception of a few trips to Cheltenham, Mac Vidi ran almost exclusively at Lingfield, Ascot, Kempton and Sandown with just the odd trip elsewhere.
Denne historien er fra March 2021-utgaven av Racing Ahead.
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Denne historien er fra March 2021-utgaven av Racing Ahead.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Tragedy Hits Racing Family - Nick Townsend reels from shock attack on John Hunt's wife and daughters
Nick Townsend reels from shock attack on John Hunt's wife and daughters. I will be far from alone in recent days in being overcome by emotions ranging from utter disbelief to revulsion upon hearing of the unspeakable acts perpetrated upon John Hunt's family, resulting in the death of his wife Carol and daughters, Hannah and Louise.
AUDIENCE IS ERUPTING
John Anthony reveals the latest top speedsters after another Glorious Goodwood
HORSE OF A LIFETIME
Graham Buddry pays fresh tribute to track legend Sea The Stars - surely one of the greatest ever
IT'S TIME TO TAKE STOCK
Paul Jacobs looks forward to seeing some big on-track questions answered
PLAYING TO THE WHISTLE
lan Heitman flies about to keep pace with a rush of two-year-old Flat action
WINNING JOY ON A BUDGET
Richard Eagle takes a trip to Windsor to check out peoples' route into the port of kings
GIFT HORSES AND FRENCH LESSONS
Robert Cooper finds 'retirement' is keeping him busy
FEUD GETS THE PARTY ROLLING
Karl Hedley savours the Galway Festival action and picks out the summer highlights at Ballybrit
ROCKING THE MONEY BAGS
Simon Nott reveals his recent experiences from trips to Brighton and Ascot
FLYING EVE'S BORN TO WIN
Nick Townsend talks to in-form trainer Eve Johnson Houghton