Desert Orchid facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Desert Orchid
Sire	Grey Mirage
Grandsire	Double-U-Jay
Dam	Flower Child
Damsire	Brother
Sex	Gelding
Foaled	11 April 1979 in Goadby, Leicestershire, England.
Died	13 November 2006
Country	Great Britain
Colour	Grey
Breeder	James Burridge
Owner	James Burridge, Midge Burridge, Richard Burridge, Simon Bullimore
Trainer	David Elsworth at Whitsbury Manor Racing Stables, Fordingbridge, Wiltshire
Record	70: 34-11-8
Earnings	£654,066
Major wins
Tolworth Hurdle (1984) Kingwell Hurdle (1984) Hurst Park Novices' Chase (1985) King George VI Chase (1986, 1988, 1989, 1990) Gainsborough Chase (1987, 1989, 1991) Martell Cup (1988) Whitbread Gold Cup (1988) Tingle Creek Chase (1988) Victor Chandler Chase (1989) Cheltenham Gold Cup (1989) Racing Post Chase (1990) Irish Grand National (1990)
Awards
Timeform rating: 187
Honours
The Desert Orchid Chase at Wincanton Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton Park Racecourse Statue, ashes, headstone - Kempton Park Racecourse

Desert Orchid (born 11 April 1979, died 13 November 2006), often called Dessie, was a very famous English racehorse. This amazing grey horse became a legend in National Hunt racing (which is jump racing). Fans loved him for his exciting style of running from the front, his incredible bravery, and his ability to win on different types of tracks and distances. He was considered one of the best jump horses ever! During his career, five different jockeys rode him: Colin Brown, Richard Linley, Simon Sherwood, Graham Bradley, and Richard Dunwoody.

Early Races

Desert Orchid's first race was in 1983. In his early days, his main jockey was Colin Brown. Colin rode him 42 times and they won 17 races together. In one race, Desert Orchid fell badly and took a long time to get up. Everyone worried it might be his last race!

But he recovered and had a great first season in 1983/84. He won several races, including the Kingwell Pattern Hurdle. This race was a test for the important Champion Hurdle. Desert Orchid was a favourite for the 1984 Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham Racecourse, but another horse named Dawn Run won that day.

In the 1984/85 season, Desert Orchid was no longer a beginner. He found it harder to win and only managed one victory out of eight races. He even fell in a race at Ascot.

Becoming a Steeplechaser

After his early hurdle races, Desert Orchid started racing in steeplechases. These races involve jumping bigger fences. He started strong, winning four races in a row with Colin Brown. He won at Devon and Exeter, Sandown, and twice at Ascot.

Then came a big moment at Kempton Park Racecourse. He won the King George VI Chase by a huge 15 lengths! He beat many top horses, even though many thought he wouldn't be able to run the long 3-mile distance. This was his first race with jockey Simon Sherwood. Simon and Desert Orchid became a very successful team, winning nine out of ten races together.

Desert Orchid continued to win at Sandown and Wincanton. He then finished third in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham. Later, he won the Martell Cup at Aintree. This was his first win on a track where horses run anti-clockwise (called a left-handed track). He also won the Whitbread Gold Cup at Sandown.

The Famous Cheltenham Gold Cup

One of Desert Orchid's most amazing wins was the 1989 Cheltenham Gold Cup. This race was 3 miles and 2 furlongs long (about 5.2 kilometers). Before this, Desert Orchid was mostly known for shorter races. The weather was terrible, with lots of rain and snow, making the ground very heavy. These conditions were not ideal for him, especially on a left-handed track, which he didn't usually prefer.

More than 58,000 people watched Desert Orchid battle to catch the leading horse, Yahoo. Yahoo loved the muddy ground. But Desert Orchid showed incredible courage and won by one and a half lengths! His jockey, Simon Sherwood, said: "I've never known a horse so brave. He hated every step of the way in the ground and dug as deep as he could possibly go". The crowd cheered loudly as he returned. Many people still say this was one of the best horse races ever!

After this amazing win, Desert Orchid had a small setback, falling in the Martell Cup. This ended his streak of eight wins in a row.

Later Victories

In 1989, Desert Orchid won again at Wincanton, this time with a new jockey, Richard Dunwoody. He then won his third King George at Kempton. He followed this with another win at Wincanton and then the Racing Post Chase at Kempton. In this race, he carried a very heavy weight (77.6 kg) but still beat many top horses.

He finished third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup again. Then, he won the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse. He carried the heaviest weight (76.2 kg) but still won by twelve lengths, even with a small mistake at the last fence!

Desert Orchid returned to racing in November 1990, finishing second in the Haldon Gold Cup. After a fourth place in the Tingle Creek, he went back to Kempton and won the King George VI Chase for a record fourth time!

His last ever victory was the Agfa Diamond Chase at Sandown on 2 February 1991. His final race of that season was a third place in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

In his very last season, he raced three more times. He finished third in the Peterborough Chase and then fell in his final race, the 1991 King George at Kempton, where he was trying for a fifth win.

Desert Orchid was much better at right-handed tracks like Kempton. He often jumped to his right, especially when he was tired. This meant he would lose ground on left-handed tracks like Cheltenham. Even so, he always finished in the top three in chases at Cheltenham, showing his incredible talent.

Desert Orchid won 34 of his 70 races and earned over £654,066 in prize money.

Retirement

Desert Orchid retired from racing in December 1991. A year later, he had a serious operation for a stomach problem, but he recovered well. He spent his summers with the Burridge family and winters with his trainer, David Elsworth. He often returned to Kempton Park Racecourse to lead the parade of horses before the King George VI Chase.

During his retirement, Desert Orchid helped raise thousands of pounds for charity. His fan club, run by his part-owner Midge Burridge, raised over £40,000 through merchandise sales.

When his trainer David Elsworth moved stables, Desert Orchid went with him. Even as he got older, he still made public appearances, though fewer as he became a "senior citizen." His last public appearance was on 1 October 2006 at his fan club's open day.

Desert Orchid became very frail. On 13 November 2006, at 27 years old, he passed away peacefully.

His ashes were buried at Kempton Park Racecourse, near his statue. A special race, the Desert Orchid Chase, is now held in his honour. Before the first running of this race, a headstone was unveiled for his grave, and videos of his greatest wins were shown. There was also a moment of silence to remember this incredible horse.