Desert Orchid and Wincanton were made for each other. The grey legend won five times at the Somerset course — more than at any other track except Kempton and Sandown. He loved the right-handed layout. The crowd loved him back. When Dessie ran at Wincanton, the place was packed. The atmosphere was electric. It was the sort of bond between a horse and a course that racing fans remember for decades.
Desert Orchid — "Dessie" to his legion of fans — was one of the most popular racehorses of the 20th century. He won 34 races, including the Cheltenham Gold Cup, four King George VI Chases and the Irish Grand National. He had a front-running style, an iron will and a versatility that saw him excel from two miles to three and a half. But at Wincanton, he had something special. The track suited his tendency to jump to his right. The fences were big and fair. He could stride out and show his best.
This article tells the story of Desert Orchid's love affair with Wincanton. His first visit — the Kingwell Hurdle in 1984. His greatest wins. The bond between the horse and the course. And the legacy that lives on in the Desert Orchid Chase, run each December in his honour. For the full picture of Wincanton today, see our complete guide.
Dessie's Early Visits
Desert Orchid's first visit to Wincanton came in 1984. He was still a novice hurdler, but he had already shown his talent. Trained by David Elsworth and ridden by Colin Brown, he had won several races in a row. The Kingwell Hurdle was a step up — a Champion Hurdle trial that attracted quality horses. But Dessie was ready.
The Kingwell Hurdle 1984
Desert Orchid made much of the running in the Kingwell Hurdle. It was the style that would define his career — bold, front-running, taking the race to his rivals. He held on to win. It was his first victory at Wincanton and the start of a love affair. He would go on to finish well beaten in the Champion Hurdle that year, but his victory at Wincanton had shown something. The right-handed track suited him. The crowd had seen a star in the making.
The Switch to Chasing
Desert Orchid was switched to steeplechasing the following season. He would return to Wincanton as a chaser. In the 1986-87 season, after his famous 15-length victory in the King George VI Chase at Kempton, he won at Wincanton before finishing third in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham. The win at Wincanton was another step in his development. He was becoming a star.
Places and Near-Misses
Desert Orchid didn't win every time he ran at Wincanton. In 1987, he had places at the course — second at Sandown, second in the King George, and places at Wincanton and Cheltenham. The form was building. He was learning to handle different tracks. But Wincanton remained a favourite. The right-handed layout, the big fences, the galloping track — it all suited him.
Richard Dunwoody
In 1989, Richard Dunwoody took over as Desert Orchid's regular jockey. The partnership would produce some of Dessie's greatest moments. At Wincanton, Dunwoody would ride him to victory twice in 1989 — first in one chase, then in another. The crowd roared. The grey had found a new partner, and the wins kept coming.
Greatest Wins at Wincanton
Desert Orchid won five times at Wincanton. Here are the highlights.
The Kingwell Hurdle 1984
The first of the five. Desert Orchid was still a novice hurdler. He made much of the running and held on to win. It was the start of a love affair. The Kingwell Hurdle had been won by a future legend. The crowd didn't know it yet, but they had witnessed the beginning of something special.
After the King George 1986-87
Desert Orchid had just won the King George VI Chase by 15 lengths. He was the talk of the sport. He came to Wincanton and won again — a prep run before the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham. He would finish third at Cheltenham, but the win at Wincanton had shown that he could back up a big performance. The course was becoming his.
The Double in 1989
In 1989, Desert Orchid won twice at Wincanton. Richard Dunwoody was in the saddle. The first win came after a second in the Tingle Creek Chase. Dessie needed a confidence booster. Wincanton provided it. He won. He would go on to win his third King George, then return to Wincanton and win again. The Racing Post Chase at Kempton followed. The grey was at the peak of his powers. Wincanton had been part of the journey.
The Race He Made His Own
Desert Orchid won so often at Wincanton that the course eventually named a race after him. The Desert Orchid Chase is run each December — a two-mile chase that attracts speedy two-milers. It honours the grey who had made the course his own. When Dessie ran in that race in his final season, he was beaten. He finished third. It was his last outing at Wincanton. The crowd had come to say goodbye. He didn't win, but he had already given them five victories. The legacy was secure.
The Horse & The Course
Why did Desert Orchid love Wincanton? The answer lies in the track itself.
Right-Handed
Desert Orchid had a tendency to jump to his right, especially when tired. At left-handed tracks like Cheltenham, he would drift wide in the straight and lose lengths. At right-handed tracks like Kempton, Sandown and Wincanton, he could jump fluently and maintain his line. Wincanton's right-handed oval suited him perfectly. He could stride out, jump boldly, and show his best. The course layout was made for him.
The Fences
Wincanton's fences are among the biggest in the country. Desert Orchid was a bold jumper. He loved a challenge. The big fences at Wincanton gave him a chance to show his athleticism. He would attack them, land cleanly, and gallop on. The three fences in the straight — the famous sequence that often decides races — were no problem for him. He jumped them fluently time and again.
The Crowd
The crowd at Wincanton loved Desert Orchid. When he ran, the place was packed. The atmosphere was electric. The grey had a fan club that followed him around the country. At Wincanton, they turned out in force. The connection between the horse and the crowd was mutual. Dessie gave them thrills. They gave him adoration. It was the sort of bond that racing fans cherish.
A Home From Home
Desert Orchid ran at Wincanton more often than at most tracks. He won five times. He had places too. The course became a home from home. When connections wanted a confidence-boosting run, they sent him to Wincanton. When they wanted to sharpen him up before a big target, they sent him to Wincanton. The course was part of his story.
Desert Orchid's Wincanton Legacy
Desert Orchid's legacy at Wincanton lives on. The course honours him in the most fitting way possible — with a race that bears his name.
The Desert Orchid Chase
The Desert Orchid Chase is run each December. It's a two-mile chase that attracts speedy two-milers — the type of horse Dessie was. The race honours the grey who won five times at the course. When the field parades before the race, the crowd remembers. When the winner crosses the line, the connection to Dessie is there. The race has become a fixture in the winter calendar. It's the day when Wincanton celebrates its most famous son.
The Atmosphere
The Desert Orchid Chase meeting has a special atmosphere. Fans turn out to remember Dessie. The race is competitive — it attracts top two-milers — but the day is about more than the result. It's about the bond between a horse and a course. It's about the memories. For a day out at Wincanton, the Desert Orchid Chase meeting is one of the best.
The Statue and the Memories
Desert Orchid's statue stands at Kempton Park, where he won four King George VI Chases. His ashes are buried there. But at Wincanton, the memory lives on in the race that bears his name. The course history tells the story. The Desert Orchid Chase ensures that new generations of racegoers learn about the grey who captured hearts.
A Lasting Connection
Wincanton and Desert Orchid will always be linked. Five wins. A race named in his honour. A bond that transcended the sport. When you visit Wincanton, you're walking in the footsteps of a legend. The complete guide has more on the Desert Orchid Chase and the other key fixtures. But for Dessie's fans, Wincanton will always be special.
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