Cool Roxy was paraded around the Fakenham course after his retirement

Cool Roxy has become synonymous with racing at Fakenham, so it was no surprise that the 13-year-old gelding called it a day on the Norfolk course.

Roxy, who is owned and trained by Alan Blackmore, finished his career in front of 5,000 grateful race goers on Sunday.

Jockey Liam Treadwell brought Roxy home in third in the day's feature race.

Blackmore told BBC Radio Norfolk: "The crowd are so supportive and have been so affectionate to the horse, it's fitting he ran his last race here."

The Rex Carter Memorial Handicap Chase (3.25) saw Dead Or Alive and Quarrymount take first and second respectively, but their thunder was promptly stolen when Roxy's retirement was announced.

Blackmore said: "We knew it had to come but I am so pleased it's at Fakenham that he's ran his last race, because he loves coming here and we love coming here too."

As a foal, Roxy cost Blackmore just 1,400 guineas, but he has gone on to become much more to the trainer than simply a race horse.

We are privileged to have had the luck to have this horse Alan Blackmore, owner and trainer

"He's so human, people don't believe it when they see him at home," Blackmore continued.

"We call him when he's out in the field, maybe half-a-mile away, and he comes straight down and he's such a poppet to deal with.

"We are privileged to have had the luck to have this horse."

Despite failing to record a win in his final race, Roxy took home one award, scooping the day's best turned-out horse prize.

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