PAISLEY PARK RETURNS TO CHELTENHAM FOR PARADE
On Tuesday 11 March, racegoers will witness the annual Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) Parade at 12.25pm at Cheltenham Racecourse. The event will showcase 14 former racehorses. Some are well-known for their racing careers, while others have found success during their second careers, highlighting the opportunities available to racehorses when they finish their racing careers.
Making his Cheltenham parade debut is Paisley Park, who retired at the festival last year after completing the Grade 1 Stayers’ Hurdle. The 13-year-old won 11 races, including four at Cheltenham, and earned nearly £750,000 in prize money. Since retiring, he’s found a new home with Katrina, Emma Lavelle's secretary, and her daughter Jazz. Paisley Park is enjoying hunting and is set to appear in the Tattersalls RoR Show Series qualifiers later this year.
Also featured is Pineau De Re, winner of the 2014 Grand National. Since retiring in 2016, he has excelled in British Eventing, hunting, team chasing, dressage, and showing. He was runner-up for RoR Horse of the Year in 2022 and served as a baton bearer for the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Pineau has recently qualified for the BE100 Arena Eventing Championships in July 2025. A true yard king, he enjoys living outside but loves coming in for breakfast and a morning snooze.
Native River, who retired in 2021 after earning over £1 million in prize money, has thrived in his post-racing life. Aside from attending numerous social events, he has become a riding horse, excelling in showing. In 2024, he was crowned the Tattersalls RoR Amateur Show Series Champion at Hickstead.
Other notable horses in the parade include Balthazar King, Bristol De Mai, Coneygree – a four-time Cheltenham Festival runner-up – Melon, and Saphir Du Rheu. Each horse has a unique story of success in their second career, showcasing the diverse paths that former racehorses can take.
Full line up:
- Balthazar King – ridden by Michael Andrews
- Bristol De Mai – ridden by Clare Lawes
- Coneygree – ridden by Sara Bradstock
- Elegant Escape – ridden by Lily Clothier
- Kemboy – ridden by Rachel Sharp
- Melon – ridden by Sophie Candy
- Minella Rebellion – ridden by Katie Dashwood
- Native River and Jazmin Hosgood
- Paisley Park – ridden by Gabby Jones
- Pineau De Re – ridden by Lizzie Brunt
- Polydamos – ridden by Katy Llewellyn
- Saphir Du Rheu – ridden by Charlotte Alexander
- Sharjah – ridden by Abbie Hawkins
- Wonga Swinger – ridden by Tori Thomas