Chautauqua parading at Flemington.
Image: Racing Photos
By Andrew Eddy
The sun shone brightly all day at Flemington for Winx’s final outing at Headquarters, but that’s not to say there weren’t some significant grey periods.
Racegoers happily paid homage to the recently-retired Chautauqua on Saturday, with crowds fighting for positions to see the mighty sprinter and Winx as they were stabled near each other after both arrived on course before noon.
Chautauqua, who was banned from racing for failing to jump out of the barriers, strode around the mounting yard laconically for the final time at Flemington between Races 3 and 4 as the crowd lined up to give him that one final cheer.
The mighty grey’s former co-trainer Wayne Hawkes said he was delighted the crowd had come out to applaud the three-time winner of the T.J. Smith Stakes.
“I’ve been here many times on (Victoria) Derby Day and they are 15-deep here, which is great to see,” Hawkes said.
This article first appeared on Racing.com and is reprinted here with their kind permission. To find out more about Racing Victoria’s Off the Track program, visit rv.racing.com/the-horse/off-the-track.
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