The super sprinting mare Lochsong has been put down after suffering from colic at the age of 26. I remember seeing her cart Willie Carson on the way to the July Cup start. http://www.racingpost.com/news/hors...26/1664696/top/#newsArchiveTabs=last7DaysNews
It is truly sad news to hear of the passing of a truly wonderful racemare in Lochsong. Granted that the end comes for all horses just as it does for humans but she was a fine example of what we all look for in horseracing, under both codes. Lochsong was a seemingly non-descript filly when her career started and she began to progress her career up the handicap ratings to look like quite a useful handicapper. She subsequently proved to be a little above the average handicapper when she won the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood off a fly weight under Willie Carson. That same season she collected the Ayr Gold Cup under Francis Arrowsmith from near the bottom of the weights. Her 1993 campaign began with victory at Sandown under Frankie Dettori and culminated with victories in the Nunthorpe Stakes and the Prix de l’Abbaye under the same jockey; this ought to have been the pinnacle of her career. However, in 1994 she won the Palace House Stakes, the Temple Stakes, the King’s Stand Stakes, a second King George Stakes and a second Nunthorpe Stakes and finally a second Prix de l’Abbaye for Dettori. She was surely one of the great sprinters of the modern era; and one that will be fondly remembered and greatly missed. What a great shame that she did not leave any offspring with remotely her ability.
Well said QM. I find it amazing that although she was considered unbeatable at the time over 5 furlongs, she didn't race over the distance until she was a 5 year old in '93. She also became only the 2nd horse rated by Timeform as Champion Sprinter for two consecutive years (the first was Be Friendly and he actually shared it his second year). A truly great filly, Timeform rated her better than Habeebti. She was a bit of a madam at the end and was often mulish. She went for the Breeders Cup Sprint and apparently did the fastest 3 furlongs the Yanks had ever seen. Unfortunately she ran no race in the Cup and was found to be injured (so retired). Compared with other great mares she did reasonably well at stud, though obviously nothing like herself. But through Lochridge, Loch Verdi and Swan Song she may have some grandsons and grandaughters running around and proving themselves.
