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| Kempton to honour Desert Orchid | Kempton to honour Desert Orchid |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Details have been announced of plans for a tribute to racing great Desert Orchid at Kempton Park, the scene of some of his greatest triumphs. | Details have been announced of plans for a tribute to racing great Desert Orchid at Kempton Park, the scene of some of his greatest triumphs. |
| The bold-jumping grey, who won the King George VI Chase a record four times at the track, died last month aged 27. | The bold-jumping grey, who won the King George VI Chase a record four times at the track, died last month aged 27. |
| Dessie's ashes have been buried near the course's statue of the horse. | Dessie's ashes have been buried near the course's statue of the horse. |
| A memorial headstone will be unveiled before a special race in his honour on Wednesday 27 December, the second day of the King George meeting. | A memorial headstone will be unveiled before a special race in his honour on Wednesday 27 December, the second day of the King George meeting. |
| Report: Racing legend Desert Orchid dies The Story of Desert Orchid | Report: Racing legend Desert Orchid dies The Story of Desert Orchid |
| Course managing director Paul Fisher has liaised with owner Richard Burridge to finalise details. | Course managing director Paul Fisher has liaised with owner Richard Burridge to finalise details. |
| "Kempton Park is where Desert Orchid won four King Georges and a Racing Post Chase. He was an absolute star and we are honoured to have his ashes laid to rest at the course," said Fisher. | "Kempton Park is where Desert Orchid won four King Georges and a Racing Post Chase. He was an absolute star and we are honoured to have his ashes laid to rest at the course," said Fisher. |
| His ashes rest next to the lifesize statue, which already overlooks the parade ring at the track. | His ashes rest next to the lifesize statue, which already overlooks the parade ring at the track. |
| At 1400 GMT on Wednesday, a video featuring some of Dessie's great victories will be broadcast around the track. | At 1400 GMT on Wednesday, a video featuring some of Dessie's great victories will be broadcast around the track. |
| 606: DEBATE Desert Orchid came down my street once on its way to the Wogan show MBH 606: Have your say | |
| Kempton chairman Nigel Clark will then pay tribute to the horse in a short ceremony overseen by priest Father David Lupton. | Kempton chairman Nigel Clark will then pay tribute to the horse in a short ceremony overseen by priest Father David Lupton. |
| Racegoers will be invited to observe a short silence before Burridge and Dessie's trainer David Elsworth unveil the headstone under which the galloping grey's ashes are buried. | Racegoers will be invited to observe a short silence before Burridge and Dessie's trainer David Elsworth unveil the headstone under which the galloping grey's ashes are buried. |
| Desert Orchid was a favourite with festive crowds at the Surrey course where the King George is traditionally the feature race on Boxing Day, part of its two-day Christmas meeting. | Desert Orchid was a favourite with festive crowds at the Surrey course where the King George is traditionally the feature race on Boxing Day, part of its two-day Christmas meeting. |
| Officials had already planned to run the Desert Orchid Chase, which is due off at 1430, on the second day in his honour. | Officials had already planned to run the Desert Orchid Chase, which is due off at 1430, on the second day in his honour. |
| Away from Kempton, Dessie's most famous victory came in the 1989 Cheltenham Gold Cup, where he overcame unsuitable conditions for a memorable triumph. | Away from Kempton, Dessie's most famous victory came in the 1989 Cheltenham Gold Cup, where he overcame unsuitable conditions for a memorable triumph. |
| A grandstand in one of the enclosures at Cheltenham is named after him. | A grandstand in one of the enclosures at Cheltenham is named after him. |