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The Legend of Istabraq

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American Horseracing fans might not be aware, but the Jumping Game ( Steeplechasing - National Hunt ) is massive in England. The richest tradition has the Cheltemham-Festival each year in March, a 3-day-extravaganza where english and irish fans gather together in the little Cotswolds Town to celebrate the three ultimative jumping days of the year. The Gold Cup for Chasers is the most prestious race, but that is closely followed by The Champion Hurdle for 2 - mile - hurdlers.
One horse has made Cheltenham his own in the last decade, and this book tells his story: ISTABRAQ. This magnificent grandson of Northern Dancer was bred in purple ( being a brother tho the Epsom Derby winner Secreto ) but fate had other plans. Istabraq ran in Sheik Hamdans colours in John Gosden's care but was slow. A young assistence trainer to John Gosden, John Durkan, spotted Istabraq's talent for the jumping tracks and found a buyer, ultimatly planing to to get his own training career staring. But again fate put its fingers in, this time in the most cruell way. Convinced his charge would be a winner at Cheltenham, Istabraq made it for his first prestigious race for novice hurdlers, but John Durkan was in New York, battling for his life after having found suffering from leukemia. He listend to the radio and his pride and joy can only be guessed as Istabraq powered up the hill to land a massive gamble in winning the Sun Alliance Novice Hurlde.
The Champion Hurlde to crown the new star was on next years agenda, but John Durkan did not live to see it. He died two month prior to the race and as Istabraq went on to become a Legend , winning the Champion Hurdle for three years in a row, his success will forever be bittersweet and a lasting reminder for one man's dream.
Istabraq is a horse of a life-time. Michael Clower tells a grand story very well. He portaits the horse and his colourful connections ( Champion Trainer Aidan 'Brien , now famous for his turf exploids, and his larger-than-life owner and gambler and major ManU-Shareholder J.P.McManus ) and goes through the day-by-day routine of handling a champion as well as giving us all necessary race details.
As the book unfortunatly has never been updated ( Istabraq was retired in 2002 ) , here some words to " the End":
Bidding for the historic fourth win in the Champion Hurlde, Istabraqa challenge was delayed to 2002 due to an outbreak of foot-and-mouth-desease. In 2002 Istabrq was 10, and age had caught up. He had developed some athrosis in his legs and was just able to beat a modest rival in his prep-race. But the irish who prayed for him made in favourite for the race in 2002, and we watched in the shock and disbelieve : Istabraq was never able to follow tha field and a wise jockey pulled him up after the secong flight. Istabraq, in not even finishing, received the biggest cheer from the crowd that day. He left the track a champion, was later retired and lives now a relaxed and happy live at his owners stud.

Read this book and dive into the drama, passion, love and pride, that probably only the irish can display to their horses. Michael Clower is irish.