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Record-breaking Judicial retires

30 October 2023

Judicial, the most-winning horse in Elite Racing Club's long and storied history, retired from racing earlier this month after a distinguished career spanning nearly ten seasons.

Initially trained by Roger Charlton, Judicial showed good form as a juvenile in 2014, placing second on his debut, before winning his second start. He was subsequently awarded his debut race after the winner failed a blood test, so Judicial is unique among Elite Racing Club's many winners as the only horse to have won two maidens! The following season, Judicial moved to Julie Camacho's Star Cottage Stables in Malton, North Yorkshire, where the quieter environment perhaps suited him better. Over the next seven seasons he would take his winning tally to 18 races, including two Group 3s (his success in the Charge Stakes at Sandown in 2018 was a first Pattern race success for Julie Camacho) and three Listed races.

From one of the most successful bloodlines in Elite Racing Club's award-winning breeding programme, Judicial's second dam was a winning half-sister to the five-time Group 1 winner, Soviet Song, and he was the first foal of the speedy Marlinka, who was a Listed winner at two years. Marlinka's other progeny include the dual Group 1-winning sprinter Marsha.

Judicial is now at EquiPrep to enjoy his retirement and while his racing days may be over, his 18-race winning record looks set to stand for many years to come. The previous record-holder, the homebred Group 3-winning Eisteddfod, had won 12 races by 2009, and it was ten years before Judicial surpassed that impressive tally.