Hundreds gather in Carlow to celebrate Hewick’s retirement

Hundreds of people are attending a retirement party for one of Irish horse racing’s biggest characters, Hewick, in County Carlow today.

The 11-year-old racehorse was bought for just €850 as a two-year-old, but went on to win more than €900,000 in prize money.

His 12 victories included the Galway Plate, the American Grand National and the King George at Kempton.

Trainer John ‘Shark’ Hanlon is opening the gates of his yard in Fenniscourt for the celebration, with fans travelling from across Ireland, Britain and the US to mark Hewick’s retirement.

More than 1,000 people had registered their interest in recent weeks, with hundreds turning out this afternoon to attend the party.