Salute the General: Fibresand phenomenon Tufto gallops into the Southwell sunset

You do not often see trainers fighting back the tears after finishing seventh at Southwell, but you do not often see a horse like General Tufto either.

Charles Smith was fully entitled to be emotional after calling time on the career of a Fibresand phenomenon after he made his 218th outing just 11 days short of his 14th birthday.

There was no fairytale finish to the stalwart's racing life as he made his customary slow start in division two of the mile handicap, but he did show some of his old dash to beat as many as beat him.

General Tufto has won 17 times for Smith, who could not disguise his affection for a horse who has earned more than £72,000 in his long career and trails only Dvinsky in Britain's busiest horse stakes.

"If he'd won ten Group races he couldn't mean more to us," Smith said of a horse who will have a home for life at his Lincolnshire yard.

Watch General Tufto's final race

"He's in a box we can see from the kitchen window and he will stay with us, my daughter Rebecca wouldn't dream of him leaving."

General Tufto, who was awarded the best turned out prize beforehand, retires in the best of health and Smith said: "Older horses have to be vetted by the BHA. He was vetted last week and they said he was in tremendous heart, like a much younger horse.

"I'll probably take him hunting. Our neighbours have a pack of bloodhounds and he has to do something, he won't retire as it would be cruel just to turn him out in a field."

Smith bought General Tufto out of Roger Charlton's yard for 4,000gns as a three-year-old in 2008 and he recalled: "We bought him for hurdling. We ran him once but he wouldn't have a cut at his hurdles.

"He's always been a character and Micky Fenton said if you put a pair of blinkers on he'll be a different horse because he used to look around."

General Tufto: 218 and outCredit: David Carr

General Tufto recorded 15 of his victories at Southwell, where he will star at the official grand opening of the new floodlights in March, and Smith added: "He loves coming here. I don't know why but he loves to be the centre of attention and they all make a fuss of him."

MOST PROLIFIC RUNNERS IN BRITAIN

Dvinsky 231

General Tufto 218

Sharp Hat 217

Captain Scooby 210

Palacegate Touch 207

Jonnie Skull 205

Noel Garbutt, the last of General Tufto's 65 different riders, rued being kept wide early on, but said: "In the straight he quickened and he still felt good. He has gone out on a high, he's gone out trying. He owes the yard nothing."

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