Desert Orchid: Racing legend will be dug up after plans to sell off Kempton Park racecourse were announced
Four-time King George hero’s ashes are buried under his statue at the Surrey track — but they will have to be moved after it was decided to build homes on the site
DESERT ORCHID will be turning in his grave.
The great grey’s beloved Kempton Park looks set to disappear under thousands of houses in a scheme proposed by The Jockey Club.
Dessie won four King George Chases at the course and, after he died in his stable in 2006, his ashes are buried near his statue overlooking the parade ring.
Kauto Star — five-time winner of the Boxing Day thriller — was also laid to rest at the west London track.
Quite how The Jockey Club are going to deal with digging up the memorials of two of the best-loved jumps horses is unclear.
It will take the most delicate of touches to convince the racing public that tampering with their heroes’ final resting place is a good idea.
The move to end more than 140 years of racing at Kempton is sure to anger jump racing fans, well known for their appreciation of history and heritage.
The Jockey Club is historically seen as the protector of the sport yet now are prepared to desecrate the memory of the nation’s favourite racehorses.
The news came out of the blue and Kauto Star’s owner Clive Smith said: “I never thought something like this would happen. It’s a shock and seems a great shame.
“There’s also a statue of Kauto Star there in the middle of the parade ring so I’m not sure what will happen to that. It might get moved to Sandown, I suppose.”
Christmas won’t be the same without the King George at Kempton. It has been the scene of some of the greatest performances from legendary Arkle and Mandarin to Colin Tizzard’s terrific twosome Cue Card and Thistlecrack.
Wayward Lad, One Man, The Fellow...the list of jumping superstars who have shone at Kempton goes on longer than the maze at nearby Hampton Court.
Those memories will live on. But the track where they triumphed as champions is likely to be bulldozed within five years.
If the plans get the go ahead — and they must be long odds-on — the King George would be switched to nearby Sandown.
Desert Orchid's major wins
Tolworth Hurdle — 1984
Kingwell Hurdle —1984
Hurst Park Novices' Chase —1985
King George VI Chase — 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990
Gainsborough Chase — 1987, 1989, 1991
Martell Cup — 1988
Whitbread Gold Cup — 1988
Tingle Creek Chase — 1988
Victor Chandler Chase — 1989
Cheltenham Gold Cup — 1989
Racing Post Chase — 1990
Irish Grand National — 1990
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Some of the cash raised from the development would be used to upgrade the Esher track. That forms part of The Jockey Club’s pledge to invest £500million over the next ten years.
A brand new floodlit all-weather track would also be built at Newmarket to help accommodate more than 50 fixtures from Kempton’s sand track.
But that will hardly ease the pain felt across the sport.
Nicky Henderson, trainer of dual King George hero Long Run, said: “It’s a massive deal.
“Kempton is a track National Hunt racing can’t afford to lose.
“It will be a very sad day if we lose it and I fear it will be a nail in the National Hunt coffin.”
Henrietta Knight, who enjoyed King George success with Best Mate and Edredon Bleu, said: “It is tragic. They’ve had the King George at Sandown before and it’s not the same.
“Kempton is so popular as a jumps track and it will be very sad. This is the way the world is going, unfortunately.”
The scheme must raise at least £100million or The Jockey Club won’t press ahead.
With the majority of the 300-acre site suitable for development there is expected to be room for a whopping 3,000 homes.
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Simon Bazalgette, chief executive of The Jockey Club, said: “It was not an easy decision to make and not everyone will be happy. But we’re convinced it’s in the best interests of racing.”
Matt Chapman said: “Racing is going to lose one of its most iconic tracks. This is a top racetrack that has gradually been destroyed. It has been carved up.
“It’s part of racing’s history.”
Sadly it appears that’s just what Kempton will become.
History.