Shakespeare & That Other Olivier: Famous Mounts...& one Dismount

[RolloTomasi]

Champion French jockey Olivier Peslier retired this week.

Aside from a plethora of major winners over 3 decades in Europe (including 3 straight Arc wins in the 90s), Peslier also had a select group of wins in the USA despite perhaps not being too well known with the domestic racing public.

In the US, he is known for a couple of brilliant fillies, namely the outstanding BC FM Turf winner Banks Hill and the late, incomparable Goldikova. He also won on the great Ouija Board, although was not her regular rider.

But never mind all those brilliant mounts, to my mind Peslier will forever be linked with one of the greatest dismounts in racing history in which that great Anglophile King McPeek could be heard shouting the famous Shakespearean line..."A Pony! A Pony! My kingdom for a Pony!"

Have a little sit-down on the grass, you've earned it...

https://x.com/RacingTV/status/1663923405664518146