Stubborn as a mule but naturally brilliant, racing's bad boy was the champion that went on strike

"The Grey Flash" one of the world's most accomplished sprinters, Chautauqua, famously concluded that running around a track at high speeds was an activity more suited for individuals of limited intelligence. The well-known tale of Chautauqua, the obstinate grey horse that steadfastly refused to run, gained global recognition when he decided to become the "Protest Horse." His pre-race antics in the stalls garnered more attention than his actual racing achievements, however Chautauqua was one of the greatest sprinters in the history of the sport - just watch some of his mindblowing finishes of epic proportions. Bred by the Throsby family, Chautauqua is a son of Group one winning stallion Encosta De Lago and Group one winning mare Lovely Jubly, so straight away he had the recipe for success. As a yearling he was set to be sold at the 2012 Australian Easter Yearling Sale, and ended up being purchased for around $300,000. He was subsequently placed in the care of trainer John Hawkes, who had already trained a multitude of extremely talented horses, including, Lonhro, Australian racehorse of the year in 2004, and Octagonal, 1996 Australian horse of the year 1996.

Chautauqua exploded onto the track in March of 2013, awarded his very first win, finishing over four lengths in front of the next runner. Already he was showing adept ability at being a racehorse, however no sooner than he had won his maiden race, he entered a lull, finishing 2nd in his next race and then for the first time ever, finishing out of the top two in the Gr.2 Arrowfield Royal Sovereign Stakes. However, in his next race he was stepped down in grade to the Gr.3 Hawkesbury Guineas, which he proceeded to win by a length and a half. Soon he was entered into the Gr.2 Gilgai stakes, which he won by a massive four lengths. Now he was on everybody’s radar.

By April of 2015, Chautauqua had won his very first Group one, with a length and a half win in the Darley TJ Smith Stakes. In November of the same year he won his second Group one race, the Manikato Stakes. In February of 2016 Chautauqua won the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes, marking his third Group one victory. He then headed to Sha Tin in Hong Kong, where he powered home to win the Chairman’s Sprint Prize in March, a massive achievement, before gaining his second win the TJ Smith Stakes in April of 2016. But it is the 2017 TJ Smith that produced one of the finest sprint wins by any racehorse ever, and the brilliant last gasp run that the he is remembered for. Chautauqua jumped last and was still tailed off at rear on the corner, a sorry 17 lengths off the leader English, who took the lead and waltzed clear with 200m left. It was an impossibility that he could even place. With 100m to go the mighty grey was still 10L away, but he picked up and grew wings to scream down the outside in dramatic fashion and claim the leader right on the line. The last 55 metres was breathtaking, and Tommy Berry judged the run to absolute perfection. It was a spectacular win by one of the greatest sprinters of a generation, and one of the finest sprint victories ever witnessed in the world.

"Tell me that's not one of the greatest moments here at Randwick" was the brilliant call by Darren Flindell.

"Can he do it, he's flying - Chautauqua!!!"

12 months later and the team were looking forward to the potential of winning the TJ for the fourth time in 2018. However, after an extremely talented and successful career, Chautauqua had finally decided he had had enough, and on the 27th of February 2018 Chautauqua refused to jump. He was forced to improve his manners and trial before gaining a pass mark from NSW stewards. He was firstly entered in the third trial, in which he refused to jump, and thinking this was a one off, the stall handlers promptly entered him in the fourth trial just ten minutes later.......and so Chautauqua’s runabout of the stall handlers had begun. On March 8th Chautauqua refused to jump for the third time in nine days, and was hence banned from racing in Sydney until he had successfully completed two barrier trials. On March 19th he refused for the fourth time. This refusal meant he could not run in the TJ Smith Stakes, and so could not be successful in the race for the fourth consecutive time. His fifth refusal came at the Rosehill Trials, which barred him from entering the Everest, one of the world’s richest sprint races. On the 6th August, Chautauqua refused to run for the sixth time. On the 28th of September 2018, the final nail entered the coffin as he refused to run for the seventh and final time, and he was promptly retired after the unsuccessful trial.

If he'd wanted to, the amazing galloper could of achieved greatness - but he didn't. Didn't want to run or play ball. Chautauqua’s own trainer believes he was the “smartest horse I’ve had anything to do with”. He simply knew there would be no repercussions to deciding not to run, and so he just didn’t run. Maybe he just didn’t enjoy racing anymore, and wanted nothing to do with it. In 2020, Chautauqua’s career as a show horse moved into its second stage, and now, after a successful stint in that area, he headed into 2023 with yet another change of pace - "Sharky's" doing dressage.

RACE RECORD - 32-13:7:4

EARNINGS - A$8,821,935

Hawkesbury Guineas (2014)

Bobbie Lewis Quality (2014)

Gilgai Stakes (2014, 2015)

Rubiton Stakes (2015)

TJ Smith Stakes (2015, 2016, 2017)

McEwen Stakes (2015)

Manikato Stakes (2015)

Lightning Stakes (2016)

Chairman's Sprint Prize (2016)

Australian Champion Sprinter (2016)