'We'll dream of another like him' - Ripon specialist Pipers Note retired

Ripon sprint specialist Pipers Note is set for a life "being pampered in the sunshine" after being retired at the age of ten.

The 12-time winner has finished last in both runs this season and the decision has been made to call time on his 76-race career.

"He's been a fantastic horse for his owners [Cragg Wood Racing]," said trainer Ruth Carr. "He's still sound and enthusiastic. Sprinters often get more giddy as they get older but he's just been a good old horse. He was a good ride and sensible in every way.

Watch: Pipers Note scores a heartwarming win at Ripon

"He's been lovely to train. He's never had to go to the start early or have any special treatment in the stalls, he's just been a genuine, straightforward horse.

"He's going to go to a retirement yard with other horses, he'll enjoy the rest of his days being pampered in the sunshine and he deserves that."

Ruth Carr with Pipers Note after one of his many wins at RiponCredit: Andrew Dietz

Pipers Note earned nearly £175,000 in prize-money and was trained by Richard Whitaker before moving in 2016 to Carr, for whom he scored a significant victory in the contest named after her grandfather David Chapman in 2018.

That was one of eight races he won at Ripon, where he also twice made the frame in the Great St Wilfrid Handicap, going down by just three-quarters of a length to Mattmu in 2017.

Carr said: "It's hard to know why Ripon brought out the best in him, maybe he handled the undulations better than everything else did, he was always a very balanced horse.

"He won grandad's race for us, which was very special, and he loved it at Ripon. We'll dream of finding another one like him."

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