Inglis Drever in action
A HISTORY-MAKING staying hurdler, Inglis Drever, has been retired at the age of 10, even though he had recovered from the hock injury suffered at Newbury last November, writes Jo Scott, freelance journalist and Darlington and Stockton Times racing correspondent.
Trained at Billy Row, County Durham, by Howard Johnson, and owned by retired Sage computer man Graham Wylie and his wife Andrea, Inglis Drever made history at the Cheltenham Festival in March 2008 as he became the first horse to win the World Hurdle three times. He also won 17 of his 35 starts and nearly £800,000 in prize money.
After six weeks’ box rest, and some swimming, the stable star was entered in the World Hurdle again before the deadline for the 2009 event, but also before vets could scan the leg again. This they did about a fortnight ago, and the hurdler was pronounced fit to start light work again.
Howard Johnson said: “I got him shod back up so I could put him on the roads again, but it was clear he was not enjoying it. He wouldn’t let Ginni (Wright, his loving groom) get on him. It was clear he has had enough.”
Owner Graham Wylie said: “We decided on Saturday that he wasn’t really interested in his racing any more. We always knew that he would tell us when he wanted to be retired. That day has now come.
“At the end of the day, he has won three World Hurdles and has been one of the greatest horses to have been around. Probably apart from Lord Transcend, Inglis Drever was the horse who got me seriously interested in racing.
“People might think Cheltenham gave me my favourite memories of him, but it was actually a day at Haydock in 2005 when both he and Lord Transcend won.
“He instilled in me such a passion for the sport.
“Howard says to let him chill out for a bit and he’ll have a box next to one of our broodmares. I’m sure he’ll have a long and happy retirement.”
Graham Lee, who won the 2005 World Hurdle, said: “He was a great little horse and was a joy to ride.” Paddy Brennan, who partnered the 2007 win, said: “He was definitely the best hurdler I have ridden.” Denis O’Regan, the 2008 winning rider, said: “He was a fantastic horse and will forever live in my memory.”
It is at Cheltenham on Saturday, January 24, that stablemate Tidal Bay will contest the Letherby & Christopher Chase, in a bid to decide which of four races at the Festival next March will be on his agenda.
Graham Wylie said: “He is entered in four races at Cheltenham and I’m sure Howard doesn’t yet know which is the best one for him.
“If he comes down in trip, he meets Master Minded. If he goes up in trip, he meets Denman and Kauto Star. Saturday will tell us a bit more about the horse.”
It definitely is a very sad day for the sport. I was there at the Cheltenham Festival when ID made history and it was one of the greatest things I’ve ever seen. Father time catches up with all of us but the memories will last with me forever.