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Here at Mick & David Easterby Racing we pride ourselves in finding new careers for all of our ex-racehorses and we love to follow our old friends as they enjoy life after racing. Annabelle Burne has sent us an update on Erniesmilkcart (known to us as Bertie) who was rehomed in 2020 after running six times on the flat. Everyone at the yard loved Bertie, and Annabelle had had her eye on him even when he was racing. After seeing him run at Newcastle she called the office and asked if he was for sale. Her timing was perfect as we had decided that he had run his last race and we would be looking for a career out of racing for the two-year-old son of Swiss Spirit. |
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Annabelle visited the yard and immediately fell in love with the handsome black two-year-old colt and decided that Bertie was the horse for her. Annabelle worked hard with Bertie and gave him plenty of time to wind down in the beautiful Cumbria countryside after his racing career. In September 2021 they went to the NCPA Pony of the Year at Warren Farm Liverpool, where Bertie won all of his classes. He was first in the hack breeding class, first in the racehorse class and took Reserve Champion out of the section (classes 47-52). He came away with 2 sashes and a trophy plate. Today Annabelle and Bertie were at the Retraining Of Racehorses National Championships at Aintree. Facing some very stiff competition Bertie came third in the inhand maiden and fourth in the inhand flat horse competitions. Both classes where big amongst horses so much older than him. Annabelle said “I’m super proud of him. The judges loved him! The commentator at Aintree announced that Bertie was trained by the ‘very well known character that is Mick Easterby’. It was a big ask for him to go and I do think he recognised the white railings as we had to walk down the racecourse to get to the rings! But he held it together. A lot of horses got loose and took off round the racecourse so I was just happy he kept all four feet on the floor and I kept hold of him!” |
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Bertie has really captured Annabelle’s heart. “He means so much to me, he’s still such a character. My show jacket pockets are full of polos and extra strong mints to bribe him and keep him occupied but it works.” “One of the judges said he had such a funny racing name for such a pretty little thing! The judge expected to see a big horse that looks like a cart horse!” “His name is great it’s so juxtaposing to what he actually is! Me and my friend Pam called him a pixie fairy because he moves so beautifully and points his little hooves.” The story of Annabelle and Bertie shows how horses can go on to enjoy life beyond the racecourse. We look forward to the regular updates we receive from the owners of our ex-racehorses and we wish Annabelle and Bertie all the best for the future. Annabelle may soon need to find some more wall space as Bertie is collecting rosettes every week as the pair clean up across the north of England. |
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