Lady Buttons Bows Out

"Our horse of a lifetime". The words, or at least a few of them, trainer Philip Kirby used to highlight the importance and significance of his stable star upon the news that the flag-bearer for his yard had been retired earlier today after meeting with a setback.

Winner of the last two runnings of the Yorkshire Rose Mares' Hurdle at Doncaster, the 10 year old daughter of Beneficial will remain at the yard and become a broodmare in the Spring, the trainer added while breaking the news to the racing world.

Announcing the retirement of their idol in a post to their followers on Twitter, the trainer went on to say "a small setback meant she would have been on the sidelines until Christmas, and a spring return would not have been in Button's best interests".

"Keith, Jayne and all us here would like to thank you so much for sharing her incredible racing story with us....We can't wait to see her in the field with a foal by her side".

Whilst the racing career of the "Queen Of The North" is over, we at JTW Equine Images are extremely excited for the future, as if her talent and willing nature can be passed onto her foals, then the future of the family, and indeed the stable, will be a rosy one, one that we can all look forward to in years to come. All the best to her and her connections for the future!