IT has been a week of mixed emotions for trainer-driver James Rattray after making the tough decision to retire his champion pacer Beautide from racing.
It has been 13 months since fans last witnessed Beautide at the racetrack but after a series of leg problems, Rattray thought it was in the best interest of his champion pacer to pull the pin on his racing career.
“After all that time off he just wasn’t 100 per cent,” Rattray said.
“He bruised his sesamoid.
“Taking everything into account, including his age, we’ve decided to retire him.
“It’s sad to see, he did such a great job for the family.
“No one could ask him to do a better job.”
Beautide, now a nine-year-old, was bred in Tasmania by the Rattray Family Trust which is made up of Rattray, his father Barrie, mother Denise and brothers Gareth, Adam and Todd.
They had bred five other foals out of their Ticket To Heaven mare Gorge Bush and the sixth foal was a colt by Bettors Delight that was later gelded and given the race name Beautide.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
