Lady Buttons retired following setback
Popular mare put trainer on map.
Phil Kirby hailed Lady Buttons as “our horse of a lifetime” after confirming his star mare’s retirement because of injury. While very much in the twilight of her racing career at the age of 10, the daughter of Beneficial was arguably better than ever last season – winning three of her five starts. After successfully defending her crown in the Listed mares’ hurdle at Wetherby in early November, Lady Buttons finished a creditable fourth in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle before landing both a Listed mares’ chase and a Grade Two mares’ hurdle at Doncaster.Wonderful mare! Wishing a very happy retirement to Lady Buttons@PKirbyRacing 🗣 “Our horse of a lifetime and the people’s favourite… What a legend she has been!” ❤️ pic.twitter.com/p5xxDn9qcd
— Great British Racing (@GBRacing) September 22, 2020
She could finish only seventh in an especially high-class renewal of the Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March, but Kirby had been looking forward to her return to action this autumn for one final season. In an emotional statement posted on Twitter, the trainer said: “It’s been a significant morning here at the yard, and time has been called on a wonderful career. Our horse of a lifetime, and the people’s favourite, Lady Buttons, has been retired. “Keith, Jayne (Sivills, owners) and all of us here would like to thank you so much for sharing her incredible racing story with us. What a legend she has been, and the decision to retire her this morning was typical of her devoted owners – putting the mare first.
Happy retirement to the wonder-mare Lady Buttons 🏇
A winner here at Newbury in December 2018 😍 pic.twitter.com/tRQvjJFdPx — Newbury Racecourse (@NewburyRacing) September 22, 2020
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