THIS is the moment two emotional owners who scooped £112,000 from their beloved horse well up after his last ever race.
Local legend Pour La Victoire was idolised at Brighton racecourse – he even had a bar there named after him.
It was opened on the same day the majestic 11-year-old won his final ever race in brilliant style, just seeing off 100-1 Mr Moneypenny in the 7f sprint on Wednesday.
For all the big-spending billions of the biggest racing yards, there is nothing that quite warms the soul like a true warrior from a much smaller operation winning a place in the hearts of punters.
Pour La Victoire certainly had that on the south coast course, winning his 11th race in 36 starts at the track – the most of any ever.
It was all enough to set off proud owners James Lawrence and Darren Blake.
They run the Curry House Corner syndicate who own the horse, named that after they bought him while sat in a Cheltenham restaurant of the same name.
Both on hand to see him triumph at 6-1 and land them another £2700, they got emotional when speaking to Sky Sports Racing afterwards.
James Lawrence, one half of the partnership with Darren Blake, said: “I’m speechless. These are days you dream of.
“Can it all be happening. Truly, really? Did he just win that in that style?
“The good old PLV style. When he’s happy, he’s happy.
“We’ll go out on a high and retire him. He’s 11, and had 121 races. Let’s go out on a high.”
Pour La Victoire was trained by Tony Carroll, and Lawrence said he will enjoy his retirement at Tony’s house.
He added: “He can stay at the bottom of Tony’s garden at home where he lives with another horse.
“They have a lovely little paddock there and he’ll be a happy horse in retirement.”
Punters were loving the interview – and the horse’s career ending on a high.
One said: “What a star. A credit to all connections.”
Another wrote: “Horse and owners an absolute credit to the game.”
While a fellow Twitter user posted: “Fairytale stuff – a happy retirement.”
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