The Celebrated Champions That Live on at Cheltenham Racecourse, Thanks to the Vision, Creativity and Skill of Four Talented Sculptors
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SCULPTURE The unveiling of the statue of Arkle at Cheltenham Racecourse S&G AND BARRATTS/EMPICS SPORT Fitting tributes Once seen, never forgotten; the celebrated champions that live on at Cheltenham Racecourse, thanks to the vision, creativity and skill of four talented sculptors ARKLE by Doris Lindner he great Arkle (1957-1970) was beloved by his country. He was even A bronze statue of Arkle, who was often trained by Tom Dreaper, ridden featured on a postage stamp! Following known simply as ‘Himself’, was unveiled T by Pat Taaffe and owned by Anne a first run and win in the Honeybourne at Cheltenham by the Duchess of Grosvenor, Duchess of Westminster. With Chase at Cheltenham, Arkle went on to Westminster in 1972. It was created by three consecutive Gold Cup titles between win not only in the Gold Cup, but also Royal Worcester sculptor Doris Lindner, 1964 and 1966 under his belt, the bay the Broadway Novices’ Chase and the who died in 1979 having continued to gelding won 27 of his 35 starts. Whitbread Gold Cup and Gallagher work well into her 80s. In addition to the Born at Ballymacoll Stud in Dunboyne, Gold Cup at Sandown Park – among statue, Doris brought Arkle to life in Co Meath, Arkle was an Irish superstar, many other victories. Royal Worcester porcelain models. 92 Kalendar SCULPTURE The Golden Miller statue at Cheltenham Racecourse PA ARCHIVE/PRESS ASSOCIATION IMAGES GOLDEN MILLER by Judy Boyt MA FRBS SEA he legendary Golden Miller the next best thing to drawing from life. I and was positioned on the terrace area T (1927-1957) is a symbol of could see how he moved, looked and any adjacent to the Golden Miller Bar, his Cheltenham Gold Cup success. quirky characteristics that you can’t see in head turned toward the site of the He won the race in five successive years a photo. The only problem was that the original start line, as it was during his from 1932 to 1936, achieving a double film was combustible when freeze framed heyday. Currently removed to safety victory in 1934 in the Grand National for too long, so I had 10 seconds to sketch while building work is carried out, he at Aintree that will live on in the racing if I saw a potential pose!” Judy laughs. will resume his watch over the racecourse record books. When he was finally pipped “My hands had to work very quickly, but in the summer. to the post in the 1938 Gold Cup, the it was worth it, as there was one shot that “Golden Miller was my first public crowds were crestfallen. showed his head up and ears pricked, sculpture and challenged me to create It was in 1989 that sculptor Judy Boyt with one ear turned in more than the a horse that had personality and the decided that it was high time the reign of other, and Fulke Walwyn was able to essence of life. He should look as though Golden Miller was commemorated at the confirm that this was his trademark.” he is about to walk off his plinth to get to scene of his victories. Using photographs, The sculpture was completed and the starting line and race his heart out,” newsreel film from the Movietone film installed at Cheltenham ready for the says Judy. studios, first-hand information from 1989 Gold Cup Day, having taken five “What really makes me proud is that the trainer Fulke Walwyn and a few rare oil months from the start of sculpting to front hooves of the sculpture get polished paintings, Judy drew and sculpted the the finished article in bronze. by various punters who rub the hoof for horse’s powerful frame. Tacked up and ready for the Parade good Irish luck when they are betting on “The newsreel was a great help as it was Ring, Golden Miller is shown at half-size, the big races.” Kalendar 93 SCULPTURE The bronze statue of Dawn Run, ridden by Jonjo O’Neill, looks down on the Parade Ring at Cheltenham PA ARCHIVE/PRESS ASSOCIATION IMAGES DAWN RUN by Jonathan Knight he death of Dawn Run The commissioning of a statue to mare had just undergone, and the delight (1978-1986) came as a shattering commemorate her life was therefore and appreciation of her victory by Jonjo, T blow to the racing community. not only appropriate, but cathartic, and working from only photos and videos. Having taken the Gold Cup crown just sculptor Jonathan Knight was honoured “I was very happy with the result as I felt months earlier, becoming the only horse to take on the task of resurrecting this the finished sculpture successfully evoked to win the Champion Hurdle-Gold Cup captivating horse in bronze. the emotions that I wished to convey. It double, she took a fatal fall at the French “My aim in creating the Dawn Run was an important commission for me Champion Hurdle. statue was to capture the moment of early in my career.” The upsetting circumstances in which triumph as Dawn Run and Jonjo O’Neill The half-size statue of Dawn Run and this much-loved Irish mare died horrified returned to the Winners’ Enclosure Jonjo O’Neill has also been temporarily owner Charmian Hill, trainer Paddy following her victory in the Gold Cup – removed from Cheltenham Racecourse Mullins, Gold-Cup-winning jockey Jonjo to the universal adulation of the crowd,” while building work is carried out, but it O’Neill and racegoers alike. At the time, he explains. will reappear in a new position close to a distraught Paddy said: “Dawn Run has “I had to somehow depict both the the impressive new grandstand during the been my life for the past four years.” supreme physical exertion that the upcoming summer season. 94 Kalendar SCULPTURE The relocated Best Mate statue during day one of the 2014 Showcase meeting at Cheltenham Racecourse PA ARCHIVE/PRESS ASSOCIATION IMAGES BEST MATE by Philip Blacker nother three-time Gold Cup and former Cheltenham Racecourse he was grazing in the field,” Philip explains. winner, Best Mate (1995-2005), is Chairman Lord Vestey. In fact, Philip’s own view is that the A the most recent runner of the four The artwork was created by sculptor relaxed nature of the statue is perhaps that live on at Cheltenham. The Irish- Philip Blacker – himself a former jockey better suited to a village green than a bred, English-trained bay gelding’s victory with 340 wins under his belt. Having racecourse, which was of course the years were 2002, 2003 and 2004. He was already modelled Red Rum and Desert intention of the original design, but it withdrawn from the 2005 event having Orchid, among many other legendary has nonetheless become a much-loved burst a blood vessel on the gallops, and winners, Philip’s original casting of Best and iconic figure at the venue – and one he died in the following November of Mate was commissioned by landowner that Henrietta Knight herself praised at a suspected heart attack. So loved was and racing enthusiast Larch Loyd as a gift the time of its unveiling. “Philip Blacker this champion racehorse that his ashes for the village of Lockinge, where Best has done a wonderful job,” she said. were buried beside the winning post at Mate was trained. A duplicate was cast for The statue, which was sculpted in clay Cheltenham Racecourse – laid to rest Cheltenham, as agreed with Larch, to and cast in bronze using the ‘lost wax’ on 10 December 2005. commemorate his victories at the course. method of pouring molten metal into a At The Festival the following year a “Mr Loyd’s instructions were that, since mould that has been created by means life-sized bronze statue of Best Mate was the statue was to stand on the green in of a wax model, took between eight and unveiled at a ceremony attended by his the village, he wanted the horse to be as nine months to create. It is now located in owner Jim Lewis, trainer Henrietta Knight relaxed as possible and looking as though the Plaza at Cheltenham. Kalendar 95.