B and K Emperor (IRE)

One of the most memorable horses to run for the yard was B and K Emperor. He was purchased as a yearling and made his flat debut at Carlisle in June 1980 as a three year old. He ran six times on the flat and was unplaced in every start, but his career would later be defined as a jumper.

He made his hurdles debut at Wetherby in October 1980 and was unplaced, but he would win next time out at Kelso. He won twice in his novice season, both times ridden by Phil Tuck.

In 1982 he won in handicap company at Catterick before a further victory at Liverpool where he was ridden by the owner's son, Ronnie Beggan. He finished out of the frame in his next five runs, and headed to Liverpool in 1983 to contest the race he won the previous season. Again ridden by Ronnie Beggan he won the Ladbroke Amateur Handicap Hurdle and followed up at Wetherby the next month.

The 1983/4 season saw him switched to fences and he won twice in novice company at Wetherby. His wins saw him raised in class and he contested the Scilly Isles Novices Chase at Sandown, but took a crashing fall, the only time he fell in his whole career.

He made amends at Catterick in February, winning his third novice race.

On 18th February B and K ran in the Nottinghamshire Novice Chase and it would prove to be the last time he would see a racecourse. Ironically, his conqueror that day was the brilliant Noddy's Ryde, a horse tipped for the very top but who would come to grief two seasons later in the Haldon Chase at Exeter.

The following Saturday morning B and K was having a routine exercise canter, ridden by Brian Bivens, who had looked after B and K since he entered training in 1979. The seven year old grey had a heart attack and dropped dead under his rider.

I had a soft spot for the gentle grey, as did all the staff at the yard. B and K had been here since he was a yearling and had never been lame, sick or sorry in his life. He was as near to a human being as you could get - an unbelievable character.