“What a Legend You Are”: Cheltenham Gold Cup Winner A Plus Tard Bids Adieu to Horse Racing Leaving Fans in Frenzy

There are a great number of equines in the horse racing industry. However, a few manage to carve out a significant enough niche for themselves to become household names. And for a horse to make a significant mark, requires it to win major Grade 1 races like the Cheltenham Gold Cup. When thinking about a Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, A Plus Tard is a fan favorite. The equine has made remarkable feats in its career, and anything around it becomes a trending topic among horse racing aficionados.

Recently, A Plus Tard’s retirement was announced. Upon its viral dissemination on social media, news of the horse’s retirement sent shockwaves around the globe. The news of it spread across social media, and its many admirers banded together to bid it farewell.

The stellar career of a “very special horse” closes

The announcement of the Cheltenham Gold Cup winner’s retirement was shared on the Racing Post’s Facebook page. The 10-year-old gelding has been involved in the world of horse racing since 2017, according to data given by the Racing Post. A Plus Tard set off on its adventure, accompanied by rider Morgan Regairaz and trainer D Bressou. Henry de Bromhead replaced Bressou as trainer of A Plus Tard after just a few months of racing, and the horse was gelded on May 15, 2018. The horse had one victory at Auteuil when it was trained by Bressou, but everything changed when Rachael Blackmore got on board as the horse’s jockey.

After Henry de Bromhead trained the horse, it became a strong force to contend with. With 8 victories from 23 starts under de Bromhead, the horse made millions in prize money. A Plus Tard’s rise to fame began on March 12, 2019, when it won the Cheltenham Festival. There was much anticipation for the horse, and the horse delivered in the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Jockey Rachael Blackmore told the Racing Post that she would “never forget” that day and that, even though A Plus Tard is retiring from racing, it will remain a “very special horse” to her. The jockey’s emotional reaction to seeing her beloved horse retire was palpable, and fans of A Plus Tard couldn’t help but feel the same way when they saw the social media post about the horse’s retirement.

Fans unite to bid the horse farewell

As an established horse, A Plus Tard has a large following. The announcement of his retirement undoubtedly united the community. As the horse had a stellar career, this fan said, “Best wishes for a long and happy retirement after a wonderful career hope he enjoys himself.” This fan would miss the horse on the track while writing, “Have the best retirement ever my lovely boy. Fabulous horse great career. Will miss you.” Another fan was just glad that the horse didn’t face any difficulties before retirement, as their comment read,“Wonderful horse, so pleased they’ve retired him before there was an accident.”

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The equine’s name now goes into the annals of horse racing, as this fan said, “Happy retirement A plus tard, what a legend you are.” Expressing happiness over the fact that the horse retired before facing any accident, one fan wrote, “Wonderful horse, so pleased they’ve retired him before there was an accident.” Being one of the greatest horses of its time, A Plus Tard will be remembered thanks to the devotion of its supporters.

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