It was a day of extreme highs and lows at Cheltenham yesterday with Ireland winning three Championship races, Quevega racing into history that will stand the test of time but a future hero losing his life after a back injury in the Champions Hurdle.
It is a measure of the sport and the man that JP McManus’s first thoughts after Jezki landed the big race of day one were for the connections of Our Conor who paid a terrible price for his involvement in the sport.
362 days ago he recorded one of the best ever victories at the Festival when winning the Triumph Hurdle. He changed hands for €1 million on the basis that he would provide many more wins at this level and he had every chance of so doing until a stumble at speed brought him tumbling and, despite the efforts of veterinary staff, his life to an end.
Owner Barry Connor is a man of few words and none were able to express his grief yesterday as the flag bearer of his investment in and love for racing was felled.
Many outside the sport will argue that this is too high a price to pay for the pleasure of watching millions and in the darker moments it is hard to argue against that humane instinct. And yet, horses are born to race, in some case to breed, and to provide moments that light up the lives of kings and kids alike.
If it wasn’t to race, Our Conor would never have been born at all. Were he not to have slipped he could have become a hero, remembered across generations, and lived out life in glorious and comfortable retirement.
Tragedy teaches us to live life and count the blessings we have. The Cheltenham show continues today and the Sport for Business shillings will be on Ballyalton, Baily Green, Big Shu and Morning Assembly. Hopefully all will come back safe.
