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Best Mate 'Chasing For Gold'

Wonderful portrait of triple gold up winner Best Mate in action at Cheltenham.

Mounted picture

See biography below

Dimensions: 

300mm x 255mm or 12 inches x 10 inches

Mounting:

Precision cut double mount

Framing:

Also available in attractive mahogany style frame

Best Mate

Best Mate (born 25 January1995in Ireland, died 1 November2005) was a famous British racehorseand three times winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He was considered and treated as one of the most loved horses in the history of British Isleshorse racing, with his sudden death while racing coming as a great shock and cause for mourning amongst millions of people after pictures of his last moments were front page news.

The horse was owned by Jim Lewisand trained by Henrietta Knight.

Best Mate won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2002, 2003and 2004with jockey Jim Culloty, matching the record of Arkle, but was withdrawn from the 2005race eight days before the race itself having burst a blood vessel on the gallops. He also missed the 2001 festival due to the foot and mouth crisis where he was red hot favourite for the Arkle Novices Chase.

Best Mate collapsed and died of a suspected heart attack after being pulled up by jockey Paul Carberrywhilst competing in the William Hill Haldon Gold Cup at Exeteron November 1, 2005.

EU regulations prevented the burial of his body on the Exeter course as Lewis and many racing fans desired. Instead Best Mate was cremated and his ashes buried beside the winning post at Cheltenham Racecourse on December 10, 2005. Lewis was in attendance even though his wife, Valerie, had died on December 8 after a 7 month battle against cancer