HM The King’s former racehorse, First Receiver, is to take part in the Tattersalls RoR Open In-hand Showing Series Final and Open Ridden Show Horse Special in Aintree on Saturday 24 August.
The gelding retired from a short racing career in 2020 and is now happily enjoying a second career under the care and guidance of Katie Jerram-Hunnable at Collins Farm in Great Dunmow.
The Jockey Club RoR National Championships is Great Britain’s largest event exclusively for former racehorses, with six days of competition across various levels, including classes in dressage, arena eventing, showjumping, and showing. A remarkable 306 former racehorses are entered to compete, with legends of the sport now competing on a level playing field in a second career with those less successful on the racecourse.
Katie has been training and riding show horses for the head of state for more than two decades, delivering a plethora of titles with the legendary Barbers Shop. First Receiver has been based at Collins Farm since 2021 and is one of five former racehorses owned by HM The King based at the Essex yard.
Following previous success, HM The Queen personally invited Katie to Sandringham to meet First Receiver in 2021, as she felt he could perfectly step into the shoes of Barbers Shop. He has already taken great strides and gave the late Queen Elizabeth II her first ever Horse of the Year success, which had always been a lifetime dream.
The seven-year-old’s racing career included one win from just four races, but he has moved into a second career in showing with great success, demonstrating the extraordinary versatility of Thoroughbreds. After Novice Series success at The Jockey Club RoR National Championships in 2022, Katie is hoping they can add to a long list of honours this week.
Katie Jerram-Hunnable said: “I’m very passionate about ensuring former racehorses fulfil their enormous potential after leaving racing, and I am proud of the success we’ve had over the years. As the last horse HM The Queen sent to me, First Receiver is particularly special, and we hope to achieve many Championships together.”
Rupert Arnold, Executive Consultant, RoR, said: “The Jockey Club RoR National Championships truly showcases the versatility of the Thoroughbred and demonstrates the incredible lives they lead after retiring from racing. The show continues to grow each year, epitomising the exceptional commitment and passion shown by those responsible for every horses’ wellbeing in aftercare.”
Retraining of Racehorses (RoR), British racing’s official aftercare charity, is devoted to ensuring the welfare of racehorses when they retire from racing, and First Receiver’s story is an example of the variety of second careers former racehorses enjoy. More than 2,000 racehorses leave the sport each year, and like people changing jobs, these horses learn new skills and adapt to new environments. Not all second careers involve competition, others provide therapy or are equally happy leisure riding or hacking.
