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Today's Racing :

London News dies from cancer

The great London News, a hard-galloping chestnut who put South Africa on the world racing map with his spectacular win in the 1997 QEII Cup in Hong Kong, has died at age 17.
He was a successful stallion at Cheveley Stud in the Western Cape and in his last three years at Terry and Barbara Silcock’s Starston Stud in the Karoo.
Stallion Manager John Freeman told Racingweb: “London News came down with colic at the weekend and responded to treatment, but on Sunday morning he went backwards fast and died.
“The autopsy showed that he was riddled with cancer - his liver, intestines and heart - incidentally, according the the veterinarian, the biggest heart he has seen.”
Freeman added: “It is a strange coincidence that London News’ breeder Wilfred Koster also died of cancer, and so did his owners, Laurie and Jean Jaffee.
“Shortly before her death I drove Jean to Starston Stud as she wanted to see London News, who did them so proud. She loved him.”
London News was a solid stallion who was unlucky not to have produced a Grade 1 winner when his offspring Port Of London won the Administrator’s Champion Stakes at Greyville in the only year it had Grade 2 status.
His other notable runners include Sally Bowles, Oracle News, Mercury Chief and Manville. He sired 170 winners of 360 races and covered mares until last week.
Trained by Alec Laird, London News won 11 races between 1 400m and 2 200m and all South Africa’s majors, including the Dingaans, the Durban July, the J&B Met, the Daily News and the Queen’s Plate. He was named South Africa’s Horse of the Year in 1995/6 and 1996/7.
- Racingweb.co.za

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