This was jockey Simon Sherwood’s first ride on Desert Orchid, the start of a partnership that was successful nine times in their ten races together. Colin Brown, who rode Desert Orchid in more than half his races, partnered his better-fancied stablemate Combs Ditch instead.
Q. When did Desert Orchid win his first hurdle?
Q. Is the horse Desert Orchid still alive?
Desert Orchid, the 1989 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner and one of Britain’s most popular jump racehorses, has died at the age of 27. “Desert Orchid died peacefully in his stable at 6.05 this morning,” said former trainer David Elsworth.
Q. What happened Desert Orchid?
Last seen by those who loved him best at Egerton, he was lying down but nibbling his hay. One hour later at 6:05 am, Monday 13 November, Desert Orchid died. Desert Orchid’s ashes were buried in a private ceremony at Kempton Park Racecourse near his statue the week prior to the King George.
Table of Contents
Q. How big was Desert Orchid when he won the Post Chase?
The Racing Post Chase of that year included many top-class handicappers and graded horses but Desert Orchid, carrying the huge weight of 12 stone & 3 pounds (77.6 kg), beat the opposition, led by the top-class Delius – a feat the official handicapper said could not be done on ratings.
His part-owner Richard Burridge has stated that it was for this reason that Desert Orchid would have struggled in the Grand National: connections felt he could do himself serious injury at the ninety-degree Canal Turn especially on the second circuit (ref. Richard Burridge: The Grey Horse: The True Story of Desert Orchid ).
Q. Who was the first jockey to ride Desert Orchid?
Desert Orchid had a successful novice hurdle career in the 1983/84 season winning several races in a row including the Kingwell Pattern Hurdle, a long established Champion Hurdle trial, at Wincanton. Desert Orchid started favourite for the 1984 Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, the race was won by Dawn Run.
