So we have come to this day, after all. King Driver (Domedriver and Queenmara out of King Of Clubs) has been officially retired, and the yard has an empty space that is far bigger than King’s box.
King has been our standard-bearer for nearly nine years. He leaves us with six wins and 25 places from 55 starts, and many, many memories, both wonderful and challenging. I didn’t train him, he trained me.
He was the first (and still only) yearling an owner trusted me to buy at the sales. He taught me about tapeworms, flat feet, pirouettes, broken bones (and how you could discover them years after the fact), the importance of jockey choice (he just simply refused to move when he disagreed), how to load a horse in the truck (one large German with a huge yell will do the trick), how to spot ghosts (but still, only he could see them), gelding (don’t wait, just do it), but mostly how an incredibly beautiful chestnut with an eight-meter stride length and a heart that no one could match can glide to the finish line first when all the stars align.
We will miss you very much, King.
“It is very emotional coming to the end of the ‘King’ era. Right from the start, finding Gina on-line (she loved horses/was vocally anti-drugs/spoke English – well nearly!) buying the outstanding King by video-streamed auction whist on the phone to Gina at Osiris and following King’s outstanding career whilst sharing a few bottles of champagne and Mojitos. He loved Cagnes-Sur-Mer and the town liked King. We like characters and King was surely that – see my wife Jean’s chewed finger. There can be no better stables in France – friendly, dedicated and successful. Gina, we look forward to your future success and hosting you, Tim & team in Guernsey where you can get your second? international winner. Love and success to you all.”
Steve Butterworth, owner.
“Thank you Gina, it’s been a great experience and we were blessed that we found you and had all our faith in you finding him when everyone said “ there’s no future in a ‘driver’ “. Your yard and your team are what all owners look for! Much love and luck.”
Steve Camm, owner.