Best Mate
| Best Mate | |
|---|---|
Statue of Best Mate at Cheltenham
|
|
| Sire | Un Desperado |
| Grandsire | Top Ville |
| Dam | Katday |
| Damsire | Miller's Mate |
| Sex | Gelding |
| Foaled | January 28, 1995 |
| Died | 1 November 2005 (aged 10) |
| Country | Ireland |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | Jacques Van't Hart |
| Owner | Jim Lewis |
| Trainer | Henrietta Knight |
| Record | 22: 14-7-0 |
| Earnings | £1,022,436 |
| Major wins | |
|
Mersey Novices' Hurdle (2000) November Novices' Chase (2000) Scilly Isles Novices' Chase (2001) Haldon Gold Cup (2001) Cheltenham Gold Cup (2002, 2003, 2004) Peterborough Chase (2002) King George VI Chase (2002) Ericsson Chase (2003) |
|
| Awards | |
| British Horse Racing Board's Jump Horse of the Year, Champion Three-Mile Chaser for second year running. | |
| Honours | |
| Statue and Best Mate Enclosure at Cheltenham Racecourse Added to Cheltenham's Hall of Fame at the 2007 meet, along with Desert Orchid | |
| Last updated on February 14, 2007 | |
Best Mate (28 January 1995 – 1 November 2005) was an Irish-bred, English-trained racehorse and three-time winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He was considered one of the most loved horses in the history of horse racing in the UK, with his sudden death while racing making front-page news.
The horse was owned by Jim Lewis and trained by Henrietta Knight. He was sired by Un Desperado, a French stallion who won the Prix Eugene Adam in 1986.
Best Mate won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2002, 2003, and 2004 with jockey Jim Culloty, matching the record of Arkle, but was withdrawn from the 2005 race eight days before the event due to bursting a blood vessel on the gallops. He also missed the 2001 festival due to the foot and mouth crisis where he was the favourite for the Arkle Challenge Trophy. He won the 2002 King George VI Chase and the 2003 Ericsson Chase.
Best Mate never fell at a fence or hurdle. Out of 22 starts, he came first in 14 of them and second in seven, the 22nd race being the one he was pulled up in shortly before his death. Of the seven races in which he finished second, five were Group 1 races, and two were Group 2 races. Like Arkle, Best Mate won three successive Cheltenham Gold Cup wins. He ran in one handicap chase (2001/2002 First National Gold Cup), where he failed by 1/2 length to give 20 lbs to Wahiba Sands. He was the first horse to win the Gold Cup more than once since L'Escargot in 1970 and 1971.
Best Mate collapsed and died of a suspected heart attack after being pulled up by jockey Paul Carberry whilst competing in the William Hill Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter Racecourse on November 1, 2005. After the jockey dismounted, the horse stumbled and went onto his knees. Best Mate's death was national news, with headlines including Who can fill the void left by Best Mate?, Best Mate leaves golden memories after giving his all for final time, Heartbreak at Exeter as Best Mate collapses and dies and Perfect horse Best Mate dies at trainer's feet.
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