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It's 25 years ago today that Meadowbank romped home by 19 lengths to take thehorsesmouth.co.uk Hotline 0870 444 6100 Novices' Chase at Wetherby ridden by Russ Garritty.
We purchased Meadowbank in August 1999 from the Doncaster Sales for £9,500, to run in the colours of Edward Shouler. A huge unraced five year old built to jump fences, he was a half-brother to winners Petrea and Black Secret.
Meadowbank ran three times over hurdles in the colours of Shouler, before being purchased by Lord Manton following the death of Shouler. In the colors of Lord Manton he would win Point-to-Points at Charm Park and Duncombe Park ridden by his son, Major Milo Watson.
In November 2000 Meadowbank went novice chasing, finishing runner up at Wetherby and Newcastle before winning twice at Wetherby in January and February 2001. He was ridden by Russ garritty in his two victories at the 'A1 course'. However, his next three runs would prove disappointing, falling once and being pulled up twice.
Meadowbank would return to winning ways in November, back at Wetherby, where he won again over fences. A week later he took his chance in the Becher Chase at Aintree over the Grand National course but his race was cut short after falling at the second fence.
Meadowbank would not win again, running four times in the 2001/2 jumps season with two thirds to his name.
At his peak Meadowbank was rated 121. We thought a lot of him and he was touted as a possible Grand National horse, but we never got to see his full potential as he died in 2002, aged just eight.
It was Russ Garritty who got on best with Meadowbank and recorded two wins from his six rides. As a postscript, Russ's son is Billy Garritty who has ridden plenty of winners for the yard over the last few years.
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