Racing world says farewell to Desert Orchid

London: The ashes of Desert Orchid, the iconic racehorse of the 20th century, were laid to rest at Kempton Racecourse on Wednesday when his headstone was unveiled in a ceremony between races.

Those associated with the nation's favourite grey unveiled a plaque under the life-size bronze of the horse, specially repainted for the occasion.

The only person missing was his trainer David Elsworth, who was stuck in traffic on the M25. Father David Lupton, of St James the Less in Rawtenstall, near Bury, gave a short thanksgiving for the horse's life, describing him as being loved by millions.

"Dessie'' had been a frequent attraction at fund-raising fetes for his church.

"He ran every race to the finish,'' said Father Lupton, "including the race of life.'' A horse could ask for no finer epitaph. In human terms he had lived to almost a hundred before he died in his sleep in November.

Kempton Park, in the London suburb of Sunbury, is an unlikely resting place for the ashes of a steeplechaser, a creature that is the epitome of country life.

However, the racecourse was spiritual home to Desert Orchid and the flying grey won its Boxing Day feature, the King George VI Chase, four times, a record unlikely to be surpassed.

It was while trying to win it for a fifth time that Desert Orchid fell at the third-last fence.

Nigel Clark, the race course chairman, said that when the horse got to his feet after several minutes the roars that greeted his "recovery' were heard 12 miles away in central London.

With Desert Orchid gone, racecourse discussion now revolves whether British racing is now in the presence of a new favourite.

Kauto Star, a six-year-old trained near Shepton Mallet by Paul Nicholls, won his first King George on Tuesday and is already being likened to the grey, certainly in terms of ability if not looks.