Persian Punch, probably one the most popular racehorses ever to grace the turf, has been immortalised at Goodwood racecourse with a commemorative stone plaque near the winning post.
Goodwood's members voted for his second victory in the Goodwood Cup two years ago as their favourite race.
Voted 'horse of the year' in 2003, Persian Punch died of a suspected heart attack last year while running at Ascot. His ashes are scattered under the plaque at Goodwood in recognition of his achievements at the racecourse where he won the Goodwood Cup in 2001 and 2003.
The 11-year-old owned by Jeff Smith and trained by David Elsworth, won 20 of his 63 races, amassing a total of £1,008,785 in win and place prize money.
Middleham trainer Mark Johnston continues his romance at Glorious Goodwood. Johnston who has sent out 19 winners at the beautiful Sussex racecourse in recent years, began the 2005 festival with a bang when saddling two winners Prime of Light and Golden Quest.
Tomorrow Johnston will be seeking his sixth winner in the (Group 2) Lady O Goodwood Cup. The trainer supplies three of ten runners in the race including favourite Golden Quest. Last year he sent out Darasim to land the all-age two-mile test. Only John Dunlop and Henry Cecil have a better record at Glorious Goodwood. Dunlop has averaged a winner a year since he scored his first success at the meeting.
