A RETIRED racehorse has continued its successful career after moving to the Borders.

Zaggy, known as Made in Time, has been named Champion of the Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) in the Regional League, thanks to a helping hand from Aileen Firth, secretary of the Selkirk Common Riding Gymkhana.

During his racing years, Zaggy has been in the famous gold and green colours of JP McManus and was mostly ridden by 20-time champion jockey A.P McCoy.

But now he has been in the region for two-and-a-half years after Aileen collected him from trainer Rebecca Curtis in Wales.

Aileen told the Border Telegraph: “Zaggy had ran in the Foxhunters at Cheltenham Festival March 2014, where unfortunately he fell whilst being well positioned in the race. 

“I made a by chance comment on Facebook to Rebecca enquiring about retired horses and thus the story began.
“In the early days he was volatile and there were many dark days, but the past eight months have just been brilliant.”

Last year, Katie-Jo Nixon rode Zaggy to qualification for the highly prestigious Royal Windsor Show.

And a first visit to Rockrose Equestrian Centre saw them take first and second place in the Dressage qualifiers at Prelim and Novice level.

They were also placed second in the Novice Championships at the same venue.

And earlier this month, he was named the overall champion of the Retraining of Racehorses in the Regional League, and has qualified for a championship show which will be held in Aintree this August.

Last Saturday, it was also announced that he had finished top RoR horse in the league, while local rider and fellow Ettrick Forrest Riders Association member, Carly Scott, won the overall horse league.

A fundraising Gold Cup race night for the association will take place at Selkirk Cricket Club on Friday, March 17, entry is £3.