Shire comes out on top in heavy horse race

A double Grand National champion jockey has won this year’s Showerking Flying Feathers Heavy Horse Stakes at Lingfield Park on board a Shire horse.

Battle of the giants

Leighton Aspell is the first jockey in history to achieve back-to-back wins in Aintree’s famous race, but he faced a ‘bigger’ challenge when he climbed on board Flash, a 17.2hh Shire.

“It was harder than the National!” joked Leighton, who was one of seven top National Hunt jockeys to take part.

This year the two-furlong race was a battle of the giants, with Shires taking on the Scottish Clydesdale for the first time.

Endangered breed

Jacquie Gardiner, who has organised the race since it began in 2013, said the race is about proving the versatility of these heavy horses as well as raising awareness of the endangered breed.

“We were determined to show that these fantastic horses have a place in the 21st century,” she said. “This year’s theme of Shire vs Clyde showcases the differences in these two types and introduced a bit of friendly rivalry between the breeds. The Shires were definitely the winners.”