Racing Pays Tribute To Mate

Sir Peter O´Sullevan, the `Voice of Racing´, paid tribute to triple Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate, describing him as 'infectiously charismatic'.

Henrietta Knight´s pride and joy collapsed and died on his seasonal reappearance in the William Hill Haldon Gold Cup.

Sir Peter, who was at Cheltenham to witness Best Mate being roared to his three blue riband successes, told PA Sport: 'He has been a marvellous ambassador for the sport, as have his connections.

'His owner (Jim Lewis), along with Henrietta and Terry (Biddlecombe) have handled him marvellously and he was very lucky to have enjoyed his life in such sympathetic hands.

'He had a wonderfully consistent record and as Henrietta expressed so endearingly, he was `himself´ - an infectiously charismatic character.

'It was appropriate, in a way, that if the poor lad had to go - as we all have to sometime - that he went as he did as he wouldn´t have suffered, which is an enormous consolation.

'Without any doubt he had a marvellous life and we are very fortunate to have seen him.

'I have to say, although it may not be the most appropriate time, I can´t equate him to the talent of Arkle, who was a freak and was absolutely exceptional.

'The fact is Best Mate won three Gold Cups and that was a tremendous achievement.

'It was typical of the sport that Racing Demon should come out and put up such a sparkling performance in the following race.

'Of course Best Mate isn´t replaceable, but it is just lovely to have an animal that will keep the yard at the forefront of people´s attention and will be quite a magnet, just as Best Mate was.

'Henrietta is such a splendid person that I think people feel for her enormously. She has done the horse proud.

'This was a wonderful and delightful horse who was a great ambassador for the sport and everybody will miss him.'

Clare Balding, the leading figure in BBC Sport´s racing coverage, believes Best Mate would have been a champion no matter what discipline he had tried his hand.

She told PA Sport: 'I saw him in the paddock before his first Gold Cup when he was a seven-year-old and he just looked magnificent. I have never seen the horse looking anything less than magnificent.

'He had the most beautiful physical presence and Henrietta did a wonderful job with him. I feel even sadder for her as she has been so careful with him, and if ever you could have wrapped a horse in cotton wool she did.

'I really feel for connections as it is a horrible thing to happen.

'As well as the beauty of watching him in a race, the beauty of just looking at him as an individual - he just shone out and would have done so if he had been an eventer or a showjumper.

'I think he is the sort of horse that could have gone and won Badminton three times, he could have done anything, and we are lucky for the profile of racing that he ended up being a racehorse.

'The only thing I can think of that was similar in my lifetime was Persian Punch and One Man. One Man dying at Aintree was unbelievable - I remember thinking this can´t be happening.'

Channel 4 pundit John McCririck told PA Sport from Las Vegas: 'The memory of his silky fencing and love of attention are what he leaves behind, along with realising we will now never know if even better was to come from everyone´s Best Mate.'

British Horseracing Board chairman Martin Broughton, who has horses in training with Knight, said: 'Best Mate captivated the public with his outstanding Gold Cup treble and the sadness of his death in tragic circumstances will be shared by all racing lovers.

'Jim Lewis, Henrietta Knight and her team gave Best Mate every possible care and comfort during his career and his wonderful achievements will be remembered forever.'

Julian Richmond-Watson, senior steward of the Jockey Club, said: 'It is rare for a horse to capture the imagination of the public in the way Best Mate did, and his death is a sad loss, not only for his connections but for all of racing.

'His achievements in the sport he was bred and born to compete in were outstanding and will live long in the memory of all of us.'

Edward Gillespie, managing director of Cheltenham racecourse where Best Mate enjoyed so much success, said: 'We are all very shocked here and saddened for everyone in jumps racing.

'Mostly for Henrietta, Terry, Jim and Valerie, who were closest to him, but somehow it is different because Best Mate attracted so many people to pay attention to the sport who would otherwise not even look at the racing pages.

'He had the most impact on the sport of any horse in the last 40 years, there can be no question of that.

'We don´t lose many really high-profile horses in such a way, I suppose One Man of the jumpers would be the first I can remember, but Best Mate was higher profile.

'I feel so sorry for everyone, we waited 40 years for one like him and he was great.'

? PA Sport