Beef or Salmon trotted gently into retirement after profitable service for his grateful owners, writes SEÁN MAC CONNELLin Punchestown.
BEEF OR SALMON was taken off the racing menu on the second day of the Punchestown Festival yesterday when he was retired from racing at the grand old age of 12.
He did not go quietly into the night; not at all. He refused to have a garland of roses hung around his neck and kicked and pranced as lively as he did over his racing career which netted his owners over €1 million.
And his last race, the Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup, did not disgrace him. The grand old warrior, who won 10 Group One races in his career, finished in sixth place in the feature race in a very strong field.
It was heartening to hear more than 20,000 punters who were there to give one of their favourite horses of the last decade a warm round of applause when he was marched into the parade ring shortly before the start of the race.
That applause rippled all the way down the course as he went down to the starter line in the company of Kicking King, Mossbank and Neptune Collonges, the French bred horse which went on to win the race, as he had done last year.
And it was very pleasant to see the concern of Beef or Salmon's trainer Michael Hourigan, and his North-based owners John McLarnon and BJ Craig, that their charge would make it safely through his last race and home to retirement.
Beef or Salmon, said McLarnon, will be going into retirement in the North but will keep fit by doing a bit of showjumping and dressage.
Hourigan, who eventually had to wear the garland of roses that his famous horse declined, said he was unlikely to see the like of him again.
The organisers at Punchestown even brought in a group of musicians, The Slovak Festival Orchestra, to ease the way for Beef and Salmon who was being honoured along with another great old horse, Aintree Grand National winner of 2005, Hedgehunter.
Hedgehunter was altogether polite and allowed his garland to be placed around his neck. And as the orchestra played Rosamunnde by Vejroda, the two horses were led away into history.
It was interesting to observe that other Irish highflyer, Michael O'Leary, in the parade ring after the big race. Before the off, the Ryanair chief had said he hoped that another Irish horse would win it if Beef or Salmon did not.
By that, he was saying that he was hoping his horse, Mossbank, who was heavily fancied, might put him up on the podium.
At any rate he came in third and O'Leary slipped from view like a bruised but doughty fighter.
A better judge of a horse altogether on the day was Judge Frank Clarke, whose wisdom seems to extend beyond the bench.
His jointly owned horse, Notable D' Estruval, came home in style in the fifth race much to the delight of the punters.
And Beef or Salmon was not the only retired warrior in Punchestown yesterday. Down with the Longford GAA men was former taoiseach Albert Reynolds, who was in great form altogether. He is also a good man for picking winners and was saying how Brian Cowen had been his first choice as taoiseach.
Not far from him was his old friend, former minister for agriculture and food Joe Walsh, who is also retired from politics. He was in the company of Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue.
The festival continues today.