MONETS GARDEN GOES HOME

MONET'S GARDEN, the hugely popular grey who has been fighting a life-threatening hoof infection, is back home at Nicky Richards' Greystoke yard.

The 13-year-old triple Grade 1 winner has been treated at the Oaklands Veterinary Centre, in Cleveland, since late last year but vets felt he was ready to return to Greystoke after making a steady recovery.

"We've had a lot of very dark days over the past few weeks but this was fantastic," said Richards, whose daughter Joey looks after Monet's Garden.

Speaking at Kelso racecourse, Richards added: "You could feel it put a bit of a bounce in everybody's step. As you can imagine he is a firm favourite at Greystoke.

"Joey has just rung up and said he is in his box, down rolling and acting the goat a little bit, but he will settle himself down. He is having a talk to his neighbour in the next box, wondering how things have been going. Not very bloody well!"

The outlook was bleak for Monet's Garden when he developed the infection in his off-fore hoof after winning the Old Roan Chase at Aintree for the third time in October.

In early January owner David Wesley Yates said it was "very doubtful" Monet's Garden would survive but that he wanted to give his horse every chance to recover. He defied the advice of two vets to have Monet's Garden put down when the infection was diagnosed.

The grey was fitted with a special shoe and treated with antibiotics, but he came off the drugs in late January and his continued recovery encouraged vets to send him home.

His return to Greystoke was a boost for the yard following the loss of Money Trix, another of Richards's popular grey staying chasers. The 11-year-old, owned by Craig Bennett, suffered a serious injury in Saturday's Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown and had to be put down.

"It is very hard to take when that happens," Richards said. "Craig was very upset. We took him to the university veterinary college there and x-rayed him, but it was clear that the best thing to do was put him to sleep.

"It's the hardest game when that happens."


After a bad week for racing I thought I'd post an article on something positive. Great to see the old boy seems to be over the worst now and what a great owner he has in David Yates

Glad you put this up Enigma ... This has been a story that at last has a really happy ending.
Been following Monet Gardens progress on the Racing Post website since the infection came to light and it's a credit to his owner that he kept faith in the horse fighting ability and went against what the vets advised. Monet's owes racing nothing now and I hope he has a long and comfortable retirement.

Credit to his owner, to Nicky Richards and his staff and obviosuly to the Vets who have treated and nursed Monets Garden back to health.

A story to make you

Thanks Enigma.........that's great news!!!

That horse is a real fighter.....bless his heart.

Solerina

Just found this article on Sporting Life

Monet's finally enjoying retirement

Fantastic news : )

Solerina