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With four days of top class racing from Yorkshire’s premier racecourse just days away you know that can only mean one thing. York’s Ebor meeting is upon us with the jewel in the crown Saturday’s 1m6furlong Ebor Handicap.
The big runner handicap holds a special place in my heart as it’s the scene where I fell in love with one of my all time favourite racehorses.
A horse that didn’t represent big time owners and wasn’t lead up by a big named trainer but the 2005 renewal saw 11/1 outsider Sergeant Cecil triumph. Seeing his big white face weave its way through the pack before swinging into the lead under Alan Munro is a memory that is well and truly etched into my racing heart.
The horse recorded a memorable big handicap treble that season after winning the Northumberland Plate two months earlier and rounding it off with a Cesarewitch success at Newmarket in October. From then on the horse progressed into a top class performer by picking up a Group 1 success in France and a handful of Group 2 race wins all of which came at his beloved York.
Although the horse wasn’t trained in Yorkshire he was a horse that well and truly became a fan favourite of York race goers and found a place nestled into many racing fans hearts by displaying his fantastic battling qualities and willingness to always puts his best foot forward.
An often forgotten legend of the game but a reminder of just how special The Ebor is and what wonderful horses can scoop such a fantastic race. There’s no guarantee that we’ll see a horse just as good win the race this year but the belief that we may do keeps everyone that loves racing coming back to the Knavesmire for more.
Comment and leave your most memorable Ebor moments below.