Smarty retired by Pitman

Smarty, runner-up in the 2001 Grand National, has been retired, his trainer Mark Pitman announced today.

The 12-year-old will be remembered for his gallant second to Red Marauder in the Aintree spectacular four years ago when they were the only two horses to put in a clear round in a race run in appalling conditions.

“We have decided to retire him. He’s going back to his owner Tracey Brown’s place to spend the summer. Then we are going to find him a good home where he can spend an active life,” the Upper Lambourn trainer said today.

Pitman had hoped Smarty could have ended his career on a high with a run in either the John Smith’s Grand National or the Gala Casinos Daily Record Scottish Grand National.

However, it was not to be as Smarty missed the cut for Aintree which denied him a fourth successive crack at the world’s greatest steeplechase and he was forced to miss the Ayr showpiece through lameness.

“It’s a shame he couldn’t go out in one of the Nationals but it was very important that he came through in one piece – he deserved that. He has been a great flag-bearer for us.

“Tracey has a very nice horse in Dempsey and we are now looking for a replacement for Smarty. She wants another National horse.”

In a career spanning eight seasons, the Royal Fountain gelding ran 35 times and won six races.