Exotic Dancer (29 March 2000 – 2 April 2009) was a French-bred

National Hunt National Hunt Racing, also known as Jump Racing, is a form of horse racing particular to many European countries, including, but not limited to: France, Great Britain and Ireland. Jump Racing requires horses to jump over fences and ditches. In ...

racehorse, who was trained by Jonjo O'Neill. He had a famous rivalry with

Kauto Star Kauto Star (19 March 2000 – 29 June 2015) was a France, French-bred National Hunt racing, National Hunt champion thoroughbred racehorse trained by Paul Nicholls (horse racing), Paul Nicholls in Somerset and owned by Clive Smith. He was known ...

but never beat him. In April 2005, Exotic Dancer finished seventh in the

World Hurdle The Stayers' Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain. It is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 mi ...

Cheltenham Cheltenham () is a historic spa town and borough adjacent to the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire, England. Cheltenham became known as a health and holiday spa town resort following the discovery of mineral springs in 1716, and claims to be the mo ...

and as a 50/1 outsider finished third in the Grade 1

Aintree Hurdle The Aintree Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs ( ...

Aintree Aintree is a village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, Merseyside, England. Historically in Lancashire, it lies between Walton and Maghull on the A59 road, northeast of Liverpool city centre. In 2011 the parish had a p ...

. In December 2005 he had his first win in a novice chase at Cheltenham. Exotic Dancer had a successful 2006/07 season with three victories at Cheltenham, in the

Paddy Power Gold Cup The Paddy Power Gold Cup is a Premier Handicap National Hunt racing, National Hunt Steeplechase (horse racing), chase in Great Britain which is open to Horse racing, horses aged four years or old ...

, Boylesports.com Gold Cup and an 18 length victory in the Letheby and Christopher Chase. However the horse finished second in both

King George VI Chase The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a dis ...

and

Cheltenham Gold Cup The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt horse race run on the New Course at Cheltenham Racecourse in England, over a distance of about 3 miles 2½ furlon ...

both times behind

. He ended the season with victory at Aintree where he won the Betfair Bowl. In the 2007/08 season Exotic Dancer ran five times, on each occasion beaten by Kauto Star including the King George VI Chase where Exotic Dancer finished third. Exotic Dancer began the 2008/09 season with two place finishes before completing a 20 length victory in the

Lexus Chase The Savills Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of about 3 miles (4,828 metres), and ...

in December 2008, the horse's first win in 20 months. A contender to win the 2009 John Smith's Grand National, Exotic Dancer was pulled out to concentrate on other races. Exotic Dancer's final race was the Totesport Bowl at Aintree on Thursday 2 April 2009. He started 3 to 1 as the second favourite and finished second to Madison Du Berlais. Shortly after the race, Exotic Dancer died of a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when Ischemia, blood flow decreases or stops in one of the coronary arteries of the heart, causing infarction (tissue death) to the heart muscle. The most common symptom ...

in his box stall.

Notes and references

External links

* * {{Cite web, title=Exotic Dancer (FR): Career Record , publisher=Racing Post , url=https://www.racingpost.com/profile/horse/586195/exotic-dancer 2000 racehorse births 2009 racehorse deaths National Hunt racehorses Racehorses bred in France Racehorses trained in the United Kingdom Thoroughbred family 20-d