The mind was willing but the body unable so age has finally brought an end to the racing career of Australia’s oldest active pacer Kingsford.
Aged 15, after 248 starts, 30 wins, 29 seconds and 31 thirds and stakemoney of $174,553, Kingsford is heading for a life of luxury.
Scott Forby, partner of the gelding’s owner-trainer Rebecca Guerds, said the veteran pacer was having trouble adjusting to retirement.
“When we work the horses he always comes up to the fence as if to say he is ready to be worked,” Forby said.
“Unfortunately while he might still be keen, his body would make it cruel to keep sending him around.
“We hope to find a paddock to let him spend the rest of days peacefully. Unfortunately, he has the characteristics of his sire Classic Garry and can be a grumpy old horse, so he is not the right type to become a kid’s pony.
“He has been such a good horse to everyone who has been involved that he deserves a good retirement, hopefully his attitude will mellow with age.
“We actually have a love-hate relationship, I love him and he hates me. ”
The Kingsford story actually goes back to 1992 when Mark Carey, now the chairman of Harness Racing South Australia, and his good friend trainer-driver Michael Norman went to a Victorian yearling sale and purchased an Armbro Aussie – Jetset Lady filly which was named Prolific Flyer.
Prolific Flyer won three races in a short career and was sent to Classic Garry, producing a colt foal in 2000 at Norman’s Globe Derby property, which later was raised at Carey’s farm at Echunga in the Adelaide Hills – it was Kingsford.
Mark Carey said it was Kingsford’s stand-offish attitude which ensured he was always remembered.
“If you went into a paddock he was the horse that would go the other way,” Carey said.
“He only had a few runs as a two-year-old but won as an early three-year-old at Globe Derby Park on a Monday afternoon.
“One of our biggest thrills was winning a race with him on South Australian Cup night in 2005.
“In June 2007 we decided to send him to David Murphy in Victoria to try and win an M0 which he did at the end of August.”
Carey said around that time Greg Bond was trying to buy him to race in Western Australia and eventually a deal was done which saw him head across the Nullabor.
“We won a few races over there before eventually being purchased by Trent Cooper, son of Ross Cooper a leading WA trots bookie who was also on the board of Racing and Wagering Western Australia.
“Kingsford won a few races for him and proved a good investment before injuring a tendon early in 2010 and being send back to Adelaide to Rebecca and Scott.”
Forby said after treatment Kingsford was able to win races at Globe Derby and Port Pirie.
“He was a good horse for us, and despite his age, loved going to the races but age has finally caught up with him.”
Carey said the family line would continue with a half-sister Zabreez, a handy race performer, having had two foals to carry on the line.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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