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Point-to-point victory for horse once written off as disabled
A HORSE born with severe disabilities that defied the odds to become a point-to-point favourite has continued its incredible journey with another landmark win. Dave Mark
Born with uneven legs and unable to stand, Skewhip was written off and earmarked to be put down. But seven years later, the horse is becoming a formidable opponent.
The brave horse, bred and trained in the Yorkshire Wolds village of Thixendale, romped home again on Saturday in the Hiscox intermediate point-to-point race at Heslaker, near Skipton.
It was the horse's third straight win, and came in emphatic fashion.
He is now attracting an army of fans, and keeps winning every time he steps up to a new racing division.
It was a great day for Gilda Brader, who owns Skewhip with her husband, Charles. Daughter Emma, who is the third generation of Braders to ride in point-to-points, also won on Duchess Account.
Her sister Charlotte said: "It was an unbelievable day. He's a horse with such character. There's a twinkle in his eye and he just loves to race. It's a wonderful feeling, seeing him out there, when you think about when he was born. He ran a wonderful race and rode his luck, and just keeps getting better."
The victory meant Skewhip has now qualified for Hiscox's 5,000 hunter chase final at Huntingdon on May 10.
Point-to-point racing is an amateur sport that has become hugely popular in recent years.
More than 200 meetings are held in Britain on weekends from January to mid-June, and while prize-money is kept artificially low to maintain the sport's amateur ethos, many horses, riders and trainers progress to the professional code of National Hunt racing.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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