Viva Pataca ~ HK's Multilmillion $$ earner lives in dungeon like setting
 

This is so sad :(

"Four years after he was retired, Hong Kong's most successful racehorse - the multimillion-dollar winning Viva Pataca - is languishing in a spartan Macau stable."

http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/a...n-macau-stable


Viva deserves to go to Living Legends...


"Archie da Silva, owner of champion Silent Witness - one of the city's most esteemed horses, a winner of his first 17 starts, a two-time Horse of the Year and the best sprinter in the world at the peak of his career - sent his horse to Living Legends in Australia in 2007, becoming one of the first horses retired to the farm."

http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/a...y-around-world

NOOOO!

I posted this years ago...

http://www.derbytrail.com/forums/sho...563#post923563

Heartbroken to read this.

Come on Mr. De Silva help this to happen... he needs to be at Living Legends.

Frightened to even think of where the other Vivas ended up, especially Viva Macau.

All of his replays except for the 6 races (5 of which were wins!) back in the days when he was Comic Strip and trained by Sir Mark Prescott and the 2nd place finish in the Sheema Classic at Nad Al Sheba.

http://www.hkjc.com/english/racing/O...p?HorseNo=G096

Not sure who all can remember back in the days (probably Kitan?) before Tony Cruz grew a brain (sorry) when he thought it would be a really good idea :rolleyes: to have the great Silent Witness live at Sha Tin.

Thank God the the De Silvas made sure he went to Living Legends.

Now I do very much like Tony these days and it is awesome seeing the pics of him visiting with SW. Maybe if he and some of the other trainers were vocal (?)...

I know Dr. Ho's reputation to use a nice word but perhaps if some of the bigshots at the HKJC, at LL, Mr. Moore etc can generate enough outrage here to change his history and get him... somewhere where he deserves to be.

Absolutely disgraceful and maddening.

"dungeon-like"

"unconventional"

"It's a joke, it's disgusting."

not "a conventional retirement"

Here's hoping that Ho gets the message.

This is just a horrible story. I've reported it on our website too, for whatever that's worth. I hope he's able to get the sort of retirement he deserves.

The more publicity the better. You're the best, ed.

http://www.theinformant.co.nz/racing...ns-scrutinised

RacingB*tch ‏@Racingb_tch · 22m22 minutes ago
Along with Viva Pataca, billionaire owners keeping champion retired Macau galloper Viva Pronto in same despicable Macau Jockey Club stables.

RacingB*tch ‏@Racingb_tch · 6m6 minutes ago
around 15 yrs ago they put down several healthy horses- owners couldn't pay the upkeep- and sold carcasses to restaurants.

RacingB*tch ‏@Racingb_tch · 5m5 minutes ago
ALL Viva horses were owned by the same couple. Think they were put down. Gary Moore trained them. Gaz would know.

I am just sick now. :(

Wrote to Living Legends and to the couple of addresses I could find for the Duke of Devonshire.

I don't give a crap how ridiculous that sounds... he bred him... maybe he could step in.

It's better to try and to make an ass out of yourself than to be silent and give up.

**** giving up. If we all gave up nothing would get done.

:{>:
Indeed!

Thank you for always making me feel like less of an idiot :{>:

Heard back from Living Legends. Hope someone working under the good Duke maybe lets him know what is happening. In the meantime trying to figure out if there's anyone else I could make aware of this horrible situation.

Poor horse.

* * *

edit - From Racing Bitch...


TAKING THE MARK SHEAN OFF VIVA PATACA AND THE MJC WHILE THE FAST TRACKER RIDES ON

https://racingbitch.wordpress.com/20...on/#more-18424

http://www.theinformant.co.nz/racing...apsing-ceiling :(

Horrifying. :(

I am just heartsick every time I think of those poor horses and this just adds to my anger and outrage.

I tried so hard, as I know many did, contacting people...

This is a horrible thing to say and I probably shouldn't but maybe once Dr. Ho is no longer among the living the family (who are, apparently, all jockeying for what was the vast wealth anyway) will decide they don't want to deal with upkeep ($) and allow Living Legends to take VP and help to find homes for the others.

Sad, sad, sad.