Wayward Lad
Encyclopedia
Wayward Lad, an English Thoroughbred
racehorse foaled in 1975, was one of the "Dickinson five" (Michael Dickinson trained all the horses which took the first five places at the 1983 Cheltenham Gold Cup
). But there was far more than that to Wayward Lad's career, which ended in early 1987. By then he had won 28 of his 55 races on 16 different tracks and his final success, at the 1987 Grand National
meeting, brought his career earnings to £218,732, at the time a sum beaten only by Dawn Run
. His best wins came in that Liverpool race (now the Totesport Bowl
) twice, the King George VI Chase
, which he won for a third time in 1985, the Charlie Hall Chase
and the Edward Hanmer Chase. Sadly a row between his owners resulted in him having to go to Doncaster sales where Tony Dickinson (Michael's father) bought him for 42,000 Guineas and sent him to retirement with his son, who had begun a new career training in the USA.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse foaled in 1975, was one of the "Dickinson five" (Michael Dickinson trained all the horses which took the first five places at the 1983 Cheltenham Gold Cup
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
). But there was far more than that to Wayward Lad's career, which ended in early 1987. By then he had won 28 of his 55 races on 16 different tracks and his final success, at the 1987 Grand National
Grand National
The Grand National is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase run over a distance of four miles and 856 yards , with horses jumping thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree's National Course...
meeting, brought his career earnings to £218,732, at the time a sum beaten only by Dawn Run
Dawn Run
Dawn Run was a Thoroughbred racehorse who was the most successful racemare in the history of National Hunt racing. She won the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham racing festival in 1984 and the Cheltenham Gold Cup over fences at the festival in 1986. Dawn Run was the only racehorse to have...
. His best wins came in that Liverpool race (now the Totesport Bowl
Totesport Bowl
The Totesport Bowl is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong , and during its running there are nineteen fences to be jumped...
) twice, the King George VI Chase
King George VI Chase
The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
, which he won for a third time in 1985, the Charlie Hall Chase
Charlie Hall Chase
The Charlie Hall Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt chase in England which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Wetherby over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong , and during its running there are 18 fences to be jumped...
and the Edward Hanmer Chase. Sadly a row between his owners resulted in him having to go to Doncaster sales where Tony Dickinson (Michael's father) bought him for 42,000 Guineas and sent him to retirement with his son, who had begun a new career training in the USA.