‘ABSOLUTELY heartbroken’ leading owners Caldwell Construction are to quit racing and sell 29 of their horses in a shock exit from the sport.
Caldwell, owned by Stoke-based Andy and Gemma Brown, said in a post on X they were finding it ‘hard to cope’ just days after the death of one of their most promising horses.
Caldwell Potter will be one of the horses sold by Andy and Gemma Brown after they announced their shock exit from racingSportsfile
The Browns sadly saw five-year-old hurdler D B Cooper die on the racecourse on just his third run earlier this week.
Their big horse Mighty Potter was also fatally injured in a fall at Fairyhouse last April.
The couple, who run a hugely successful construction business, will sell Grade 1-winning and big Cheltenham Festival hope Caldwell Potter as part of their dispersal.
A statement on behalf of the couple read: “Further to the sad loss of one of our young horses D B Cooper again as a family we are absolutely heartbroken.
“Also we lost Smooth Player only just two weeks ago.
“Having a young family it’s hard to cope with such losses and therefore we feel it is time for a break from the sport.”
All of Caldwell Construction’s horses will be put up for sale at the Tattersalls Ireland auction on February 6.
The couple are known for their close association with three-time Grand National winner Gordon Elliott, who trained their horses.
They stuck with him through his dead horse photo shame and gave him his first winner back following a six-month ban.
Leading trainer Elliott insisted there had not been any falling out but said their conversation about the split had been brief.
He told the Racing Post: “I have had an amazing two or three years training for them and we’ve had some unbelievable success
“We didn’t go into their reasoning for it too much so I don’t know exactly – I only got the phone call myself on Thursday morning.
“There has been absolutely no falling out. They just wanted to take a break from the game and I couldn’t say enough good things about them.”
More to follow.
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