A fitting tribute to a larger-than-life performer who still keeps on giving
That seemed a witty observation at the time but then the Danish cartoons about Islam probably seemed a good idea at the time - only they were less offensive. Joking about Best Mate is not best advised.
The three-times Gold Cup winning wonder-horse, who died unexpectedly before seeing another season, was remembered reverentially yesterday when a life-size bronze statue of him was unveiled close to the paddocks.
He’s the only horse to have the honour of life-size replication - Golden Miller, Arkle and Dawn Run are only half the size in bronze that they were in the flesh.
Owner Jim Lewis captured the mood of the hundreds of onlookers perfectly. “To have owned a horse that gave so much pleasure to us all is wonderful.
“To see him here in the place where all race-goers’ dreams and fantasies are played out is both heart-warming and emotional.
“He is here where he belongs, where everyone can gaze upon his beauty and his grace, where we can dream again of those fabulous three Gold Cup wins.”
There were tears and tissues and excuses that the cold was causing sniffles, but heart strings were to be plucked further with a performance by English-Irish four-piece Murphy’s Marbles of their musical eulogy to Best Mate and various mates that passed on before him, They Will Run Forever.
Then the real heartbreaker emerged to shame the cynical. Declan Brennan, originally from Arklow, and Kevin Stauntry, originally from Cobh, are two quarters of the band and they explained their association with Best Mate.
“When Best Mate died it was a double tragedy because the proceeds from the merchandise associated with him all went to St Richard’s Children’s Hospice and suddenly he was gone so the children would have been down funds,” said Kevin.
“We released the song as a single and all the proceeds are going to the hospice. We lost Best Mate sooner than expected, but this way he can go on helping children with short lives.”
The single can be had from www.murphysmarbles.com
