Finding out ex racehorses reason for retirement

[est-1978]

I have found a very nice thoroughbred who has been trained and schooled over the last year and a half as a lovely riding horse.

I will get a 5 stage vetting before purchasing him but just wondered if I can find out whether he was retired due to injury/illness at all?

His name is Spirit of Love (2007) and his trainer was Michael Wigham.

 

[amage]

Looking at his record he was retired in August 2011 after a 2 year career on the flat in which he was pretty much useless. He finished 2nd once but never won and that second was the only time he was ever in the shake up at all and it wasn't really the highest class of race. Obviously it's no guarantee but looks to be a fairly safe bet he was retired due to lack of ability. He has no major gaps in his racing record to indicate injury and seemed to run quite frequently with no major issues having 22 runs in his pretty short career. If getting a 5stage vetting that will show you any issues but certainly doesn't appear to have had any major issues bar no ability wile racing. Best of luck with him...always nice to get a good horse for a second career off the track

 

[Baileybones]

OMG I'm so old - I used to lead up "Whiggy" when he was still race riding!

He was always a nice bloke - why don't you give him a call? You could always just say that you're interested in buying this chap and you were wondering if he could tell you something about what sort of person he is? I called the old trainer of one of mine albeit after I already owned her and he was very forthcoming - mostly telling me what an opinionated old witch she was!

 

[est-1978]

Brilliant thanks! His legs are clean so am not overly concerned but you just never know have tried calling the trainer but no answer yet..

Looking at his record he was retired in August 2011 after a 2 year career on the flat in which he was pretty much useless. He finished 2nd once but never won and that second was the only time he was ever in the shake up at all and it wasn't really the highest class of race. Obviously it's no guarantee but looks to be a fairly safe bet he was retired due to lack of ability. He has no major gaps in his racing record to indicate injury and seemed to run quite frequently with no major issues having 22 runs in his pretty short career. If getting a 5stage vetting that will show you any issues but certainly doesn't appear to have had any major issues bar no ability wile racing. Best of luck with him...always nice to get a good horse for a second career off the track

 

[est-1978]

spoke to Michael Wigham - pretty unhelpful - couldnt remember anything! Will take that as a good sign that nothing dramatic happened to him worth remembering!

 

[Baileybones]

spoke to Michael Wigham - pretty unhelpful - couldnt remember anything! Will take that as a good sign that nothing dramatic happened to him worth remembering!

Terribly helpful - He was a flat jockey so not even as if can be excused by the repeated amount of times he dropped on his head ;-)

Well good luck with the vetting and I agree - if he'd broken him he'd either remember of there'd be evidence.