The old “Iron Horse” of the 1970s Igloo, broke down, cheated death and miracleously raced at top level again

In the early to mid-1970s, if you were involved in horse racing, you likely encountered this well-known racehorse at some point during his career. The big New Zealander Igloo arrived in Australia in the spring of 1971 as a four year old, having shown solid form in NZ as a two and three year old. He was a chestnut gelding, foaled in 1967 by sire, Arctic Explorer (GB) from the mare, Silver Rod.

Owned and trained in New Zealand by Arthur Didham from Wingatui, Igloo made a winning debut when, as a 10/1 shot he took out the 2000m Turnbull Stakes at Flemington with Arthur’s son, Midge Didham in the saddle. Two weeks later and it was two from two as Igloo crushed his rivals by 3L in the Coongy Handicap at Caulfield. Three 2nd placings in the three biggest Group one races of the spring carnival followed - the Caulfield Cup behind Gay Icarus, W S Cox Plate behind Tauto and the Melbourne Cup behind another Kiwi, Silver Knight. Midge Didham shifted to ride across the Tasman shortly afterwards and had a great career in New Zealand and Australia, winning a Melbourne Cup on Baghdad Note.

Immediately after the Melbourne Cup, Igloo was sold for a reported $50,000 to wealthy American socialite, Mrs Liz Tippett and quickly transferred to Tommy Smith’s stables in Sydney. Nine days after the Melbourne Cup, Igloo had his first success for TJ with a course-record breaking 10 length win in the Christmas Cup at Rosehill. Igloo was then sent to WA for the Perth Cup where he was installed an odds-on favourite. But just days before the race, tragedy struck.

Following a track gallop, Igloo broke-down badly in both foreleg sesamoids and several local veterinary surgeons agreed that Igloo should be put down. But Smith and Liz Tippert, who had flown to Perth for the Cup, wanted leading vet Percy Sykes’ opinion and kept Igloo alive under sedation until Sykes, who was overseas at the time, could rush there to examine him. Sykes opinion? Igloo can be saved - and he was. Igloo spent months in a large canvas sling, set up on a hoist so his legs were not subjected to any weight. After missing a significant portion of his 4-year-old season, and the entirety of his 5-year-old season, the successful return of Igloo to the racetrack was a noteworthy accomplishment that demanded unwavering determination and perseverance to restore his fitness, health, and readiness to potentially race again. His return was nothing short of amazing.

On October 27 1973 the crowd at Randwick racecourse watched in awe as the horse who had cheated death, raced to the front at the 200m mark in the Castlereagh Handicap. Igloo carried 61.5 kgs that day and they cheered him all the way to the post as he went on to complete a most remarkable winning return to racing.

Igloo started 10 times in his 6 year-old season, winning four, including the Chipping Norton Stakes, Autumn Stakes and the Brisbane Cup, as well as being placed four times. It was an exceptional comeback, akin to a miraculous resurrection like that of Lazarus. The Igloo return experience was nothing short of extraordinary.

Igloo, returned as a seven year old in the spring of ’74 and after a first-up seventh in the Chelmsford Stakes he headed back to Melbourne where he won the Caulfield Stakes. Although past his best, Igloo was far from disgraced with a sixth in the Caulfield Cup, a fourth in the Cox Plate and an eighth in the Melbourne Cup at his next three starts. An eleventh placing at his next start, the Sandown Cup behind Pyramul would bring down the curtain on Igloo’s courageous career. His American owner Mrs Liz Tippett decided to retire him. Liz Tippetts thought so much of Igloo that she had him sent to the US where he lived out his days at her property at the Llangollen Estate, in Virginia, USA.

RACE RECORD - 48: 16-5-7

EARNINGS- $160, 770

1971 Coongy Handicap

1971 Turnbull Stakes

1974 AJC Autumn Stakes

1974 Chipping Norton Stakes

1974 Brisbane Cup

1974 Caulfield Stakes (now Yalumba Stakes)