Retirements.....

[my miss storm cat]

http://www.racingandsports.com.au/ra...asp?NID=135531

Big Farewell For County Tyrone
Chris Scholtz

Friday, 19 September 2008: Newcastle's favourite horse will be given the send off he deserves with a “Farewell County Tyrone” race day at Broadmeadow on September 27.

Veteran stayer County Tyrone brought down the curtain on his marvelous career when he produced yet another big-hearted performance to finish third in Thursday's $185,000 Newcastle Gold Cup.

Trainer Kris Lees confirmed that County Tyrone is to be groomed as a NSW Police mount but not before his local fans can give him a send off at Broadmeadow.

The Newcastle Jockey Club has announced that the Broadmeadow meeting on Saturday week will be “County Tyrone Day:” with free entry for all punters, County Tyrone memorabilia and a final parade by the 10-year-old gelding.

"We will have hats and memorabilia for everyone that comes to honour County. He deserves a day like that," said NJC chief executive John Curtis.

An emotional Lees was proud of County Tyrone's final race day effort, some eight seasons after he began racing as a two-year-old when he was trained by his father, the late Max Lees.

"What a way to go out. He just refused to give in," Lees said.

"Yes, I am sad, a horse like this is once in a lifetime for a trainer.

“He has been the last link to Dad around the stables in a physical sense but it is so much more, he owns the place.

"The owners have agreed to let him stay with me for another week, so he will be a special star at the Newcastle meeting on Saturday week.

"That will be a day-and-a-half for us all."

County Tyrone was having his 87th race start in the Newcastle Cup. The$16,650 he picked up for third place took his career earnings to $2,266,420 from nine wins, eight seconds and nine thirds.

He won three Group 1 races - the Sydney Cup, AJC Metropolitan and QTC Derby - and contested six Sydney Cups, two Melbourne Cups and was placed twice in the Newcastle Cup, a race Lees always wanted to win with the gelding.