BELVOIR-BASED FORMER RACEHORSE CROWNED NATIONAL CHAMPION AT PRESTIGIOUS RoR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS IN AINTREE

Belvoir-based former racehorse, Shadowfax, was crowned the London International Horse Show Racehorse to Show Horse Qualifier 2026 winner at The Jockey Club RoR National Championships held at Aintree International Equestrian Centre.

Seven-year-old, Shadowfax, lovingly now known as Gandalf, was trained by Michael Appleby in a racing career that saw him run on 17 occasions, and claim victory at Chelmsford in 2023. Since retiring from racing in 2024, Shadowfax has gone on to demonstrating the remarkable versatility of Thoroughbreds, evident in his latest triumph in the showing arena. 

30-year-old Danni, who previously worked for Michael Appleby and looked after Shadowfax during his racing career, took sole ownership of the former racehorse following retirement in 2024. The pair have since gone on to successfully retrain into dressage and showing, with their latest victory following a win earlier this year in the RoR Regional Dressage Horse Championships at Field House.

Danni Harris, owner of Shadowfax, said: “Considering the journey we’ve had to get to the RoR Championships this year, winning has meant a great deal. I only entered to see how he compared against horses of that standard, so to win is very special.”

In 2025, RoR introduced new weight ratio guidelines backed by the independent Welfare Stewarding Group to protect the welfare of the horses in competitions. Riders, alongside their tack, must not weigh more than 20% of the horse’s bodyweight when taking part in competitions and other ridden events. Danni has since lost five stone in eight months, enabling the pair to fulfil their dream of competing and winning at Aintree.

Reflecting on her weight loss journey to get to Aintree, Danni Harris said: “It all started after I broke my shoulder in October last year. I was off work and wasn't as active as I used to be. In January it really hit home that I wanted to compete at the RoR National Championships, but I realised I wouldn't be within the weight ratio guidelines unless I made some changes.

“I saw more and more discussions about the welfare requirements on social media and decided I had to do something. Giving up would have been the easier option, but I had already put so much work into Gandalf that I wanted to continue competing him myself.

My weight loss journey came down to determination and willpower, and when I attended the weigh-in at Aintree, I received my suitably mounted certificate.”

The Jockey Club RoR National Championships, which took place from 18–23 August 2026 at Aintree International Equestrian Centre, is Great Britain’s largest event exclusively for former racehorses, with a record 350 horses entered to take part this year. The six-days of competition demonstrated former racehorses in their new disciplines, including classes in showing, dressage, and jumping.

David Catlow, Managing Director of RoR, added: “This year’s Championships were another fantastic celebration of the remarkable versatility and potential of former racehorses. Seeing these Thoroughbred’s thriving in new disciplines, supported by dedicated owners, riders, and trainers, demonstrates the fulfilling life that follows a racing career.”

Retraining of Racehorses (RoR), British horseracing’s official aftercare charity, is devoted to ensuring the welfare of racehorses when they retire from racing, and Shadowfax’s story is one example of the various equine disciplines that former racehorses enjoy as second careers. More than 2,300 racehorses leave the sport each year with non-racing agreements, and these horses go on to a range of careers including disciplines away from competition, such as therapy horses, or leisure riding and hacking.

On the same weekend as the RoR National Championships took place, National Racehorse Week also began. National Racehorse Week is a nationwide celebration of the Thoroughbred racehorse and helps shine a light on the incredible levels of care provided to racehorses across their lives, whilst providing a chance for communities to see up close the love, care and attention that goes into looking after them.