‘Sheer poetry – it’s as though he had wings’

WAYWARD LAD remains one of steeplechasing’s all-time greats. The winner of 28 of his 55 races, he became the first horse in history to win three King George VI Chases at Kempton on Boxing Day when prevailing in 1985 under Graham Bradley.
By The Newsroom
Published 26th Oct 2015, 05:01 BST

“He was absolutely poetry in motion. It is as though he had wings – he gained so much in the air at many of the fences. He was spectacular, stunning, and he was class all over,” said trainer Michael Dickinson.

Yet, a breakdown in relations between the horse’s owners and the Dickinson family when they wanted to retire to Wayward Lad, led the horse being sent to Doncaster Sales where he was purchased for 42,000 guineas by Dickinson’s mother Monica so the champion could have the retirement he deserved.

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“There was a crush to get a look at the old soldier as he was led around,” said Bradley. “When the hammer came down, it was one of the most emotional scenes I’ve ever seen. Harry Beeby, the auctioneer, announced ‘Wayward Lad is sold to go back to Harewood’.

“There were cheers and Mrs D marched round the ring and gave him a handful of polo mints. She couldn’t hold back the tears, but said ‘We would have gone higher if we had to’. That’s how much the horse meant.”