news Rich Man Poor Man is crowned king at Aintree

• Title of Supreme Champion goes to Scotland and Rich Man Poor Man
• 280 former racehorses take part in The Jockey Club RoR National Championships

Five days of intense competition at The Jockey Club RoR National Championships concluded on Saturday evening under the lights of the Aintree International Equestrian Centre with the announcement of the winner of RoR Elite Performance Award for showing.

Lining up in front of the judges for the week’s final event were the winners of all the prestige qualifying classes and after much deliberation the nine-year-old gelding, Rich Man Poor Man, ridden by Kirstine Douglas, was awarded the title of 2022 Supreme Champion. Runner-up and Reserve Champion was the 2021 winner Minella Rebellion and Katie Dashwood.

In his racing career Rich Man Poor Man was trained by Philip Kirby, but he did not distinguish himself in five starts under National Hunt rules, pulling up on four occasions. However, since retiring from racing in 2017 to pursue a career in showing Rich Man Poor Man has gone from strength to strength under the guidance of Kirstine Douglas, who has been producing horses and ponies for many years from her base in Dumfriesshire, Scotland.

Reflecting on the result, Kirstine Douglas said: “I am absolutely over the moon. Robbie (Rich Man Poor Man) is just a fabulous horse and I am so delighted for his owner, Morean Hamilton, who is a fantastic supporter of mine and of RoR.

“We’re qualified for two classes at HOYS (Horse of the Year Show) in October and so we will have a bit of downtime now and prepare for that. It’s a dream come true.”

A total of 280 former racehorses were entered to compete at Aintree over the five days in classes for dressage, arena eventing, show jumping and showing at Europe’s largest event exclusively for retrained racehorses.

Among the horses competing familiar to racegoers were former King George VI Chase and Stayers’ Hurdle winner Thistlecrack, July Cup winner Limato, and classy staying chaser, American, each of which won a showing class. While former Group 1 winning sprinter and current equine ambassador for York Racecourse, Goldream, was runner-up in a dressage class.

There was also a notable success for the Queen’s horse, First Receiver, who like Barbers Shop before him, is in the care of producer Katie Jerram-Hunnable. This son of New Approach was last seen on the racetrack at Royal Ascot in 2020, when finishing second under Frankie Dettori in the Hampton Court Stakes. Still only a 5-year-old, First Receiver has a long showing career ahead of him on the evidence of his victory on Saturday in the Tattersalls RoR Novice Showing Series Championship final.

The event also played host to the RoR National Dressage Championships and the Elite Performance Award for dressage went to the 20-year-old gelding, My Diss Sire, owned and ridden by Judith Barker. Judith has been competing on My Diss Sire for over fifteen years, following his retirement from racing in 2005 after six starts on the flat for trainer Ed Dunlop. The pair did twelve seasons of eventing up until 2019 and have since focussed on dressage.

Di Arbuthnot, RoR Chief Executive, said: “It is a very special event with an atmosphere like no other. There is a genuine feel-good factor walking around Aintree and it is heart-warming to see so many former racehorses looking so well with their devoted owners and riders.

“It was also notable this year how many fabulous looking older horses we had competing, not least the 20-year-old winner of the Elite Performance Award for dressage, My Diss Sire. This horse had a short-lived, six-month racing career but is still thriving seventeen years later. Such feats are testament to the opportunities RoR has created for these horses.

“Our thanks again to The Jockey Club and Aintree for their support and we are already looking forward to next year.”