Kitty’s Light is the horse of the year

John Trotwood Moore, one-time State Librarian of Tennessee, was a racist and defender of the Ku Klux Klan. But in the saying for which he is best remembered he did get one thing right: ‘Wherever man has left his footprint in the long ascent from barbarism to civilisation we will find the hoofprint of the horse alongside it.’

I was reminded of his words because of those used by trainer Christian Williams after his Kitty’s Light had won a famous victory in last Saturday’s bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown Park. Christian is not only an outstanding trainer of staying chasers, he is also the father of a little girl called Betsy who was recently diagnosed with leukaemia. In his distinctive Welsh baritone he declared: ‘We’re lucky to be involved in racing given what we’re going through. We can still have enjoyment through the dark days. When horses see children, they are like different animals. When we walk in tomorrow morning and Kitty’s Light sees us in his field, he’ll neigh and come running over to the family. They are such special animals.’

Kitty’s Light, whom they have had since he was a yearling, is a lot more special than most. Technically, the son of Nathaniel is too small to be doing the job he does. He is not the best jumper of fences around and he takes time to warm up in his races for regular partner Jack Tudor. I have admired him nevertheless since the day he ran in the Badger Beers Silver Trophy Chase at Wincanton on 7 November 2020 as a mere four-year-old. Twenty lengths down, when baulked by a faller at the third last, he finished like a train to snatch what had looked like an impossible third place.