I was just going through the gate which said ‘Horseboxes’ in big, bold and black writing engraved on the white board next to the gate. I had to show the security pass to get through. Every part of my body was trembling and shivering with anxiety and hope that Luxembourg the cute and chocolate coloured would come back safely and we would get a big run out. I was hoping in a few hours time all my hard work with staff with this horse would pay off today with a place or a win. I was shivering, I was growing colder and colder with hope, but most of all anxiety, I had now got Goosebumps running up my arms and legs, everywhere.
A cold anxiety filled hour of bitter coldness has just passed; I walked the horse out into the pre parade ring. I put the saddle on tightly so it would not move as he was running the race. He was number 9, it was my lucky number, I thought could this be my lucky day today. Luxembourg and I walked round the pre parade ring a couple of times before we went into the dreaded parade ring. The atmosphere was electrifying. There were a couple of 100 people watching us, only us in the pre parade because all the other entrants had already made their way to the parade ring. My heart was in my mouth. We walked through the plastic gates through to the parade ring. There were a couple of thousand people watching us because we were the last horse to go through. I could feel Luxembourg tensing up and scared, there were lots and lots of people watching him. We walked round and round the huge parade ring. I heard a voice faintly; he said “number nine looks fit and healthy”. I thought to myself that must be a good sign if other people think he is fit. The first bell rang deafeningly, it meant the jockeys were to come out and mount up onto the horse. Paddy came out jogging; he came over and talked to us. He said “Go from the front, see how it goes”. I went over to the horse with Paddy, I gave him a leg up, and we were the first mounted up. I walked out to the course holding the horse reigns as if I was walking a dog. I said “Good Luck” to Paddy and let the reigns go. Luxembourg was off, his glistening coat shining in the beaming bright sun. His picturesque face standing out with the long and lovely white blaze standing out on his chocolate coloured coat. He made his way down to the 2 mile start by Swinley Bottom.
I went to my place high up in the gigantic stand in front of the massive course; I was surrounded by about three million people watching the race. I was shivering and trembling. “They’re off” Luxembourg went off in the lead by about ten lengths clear of the rest of the horses. A mile gone Luxembourg still ahead but the rest of the field have just come back to him. As Luxembourg came past the winning post for the first time, I shouted as loud as I could “COME ON PADDY. He was going the best out of the other eight who were being nudged along a touch. He jumped the next two down at Swinley Bottom as if he was jumping for fun. “It was all going well” I thought to myself. The next fence came; the field of nine were bunched together. Luxembourg was still first. He jumped the next extremely well. The second horse fell and brought down the third and fourth. The ninth horse refused the fence. There was six left. Luxembourg was left three lengths clears of number 2 who was 8 lengths ahead of the remainder who were weakening rapidly. Paddy decided to kick on, He began to get tired, he came to the last fence of sixteen. He was extremely tired, he clattered the fence. The second was closing in on him on the run in. Luxembourg was idling in front. He went one way and then the other. Paddy gave him a few slaps down the neck. One hundred metres left, one furlong until the end. The second horse came closer, closer, and closer. The race went to the judge. A few minutes wait, I was trembling, shivering and Goosebumps went everywhere. The judge spoke “first number 9 Luxembourg, Second Number 2 Kauto Star. I went down to pick him up, I whispered to Paddy “Well Done.” He was delighted. I walked him into the winner’s enclosure. I felt that Luxembourg was not walking as fit as usual. He was limping; we thought something must be wrong with him. He just about got into the winners enclosure. I asked the vet to look at him. The vet said he had to be put down, he could not live another hour. He was put down. I fell to the ground in complete shock. I was in tears. A puddle building up on my face. I was sweating, shivering but most of all distraught. My staff, family and I were distressed and depressed. He was the best horse I ever had for the thirteen years we have been running the stable. I thought to myself, no one can ever replace Luxembourg, he was a superior, excellent and energetic horse that will never be forgotten and always have a place in our hearts.
