There are many ways for a horse to etch their name into racing folklore. Sheer brilliance at the track is the most common method. Others, perhaps lacking such talent, win the hearts of the racing public with their personality.
Lining up for Nigel Twiston-Davies, Mad Moose was a talented performer on his day. However, only Mad Moose knew when those days would be. Successful seven times between 2009 and 2013, he also refused to race on five occasions and pulled himself up before the first fence on another. Here, we look back on the career of a cult hero who sadly passed away this week at the age of 21.
Well Behaved…To Begin With
Mad Moose enjoyed a conventional start to his racing career when finishing a respectable fifth in a pair of 2008 bumper events. His 2009 novice hurdling campaign was similarly unremarkable, with two runners-up efforts and a third-place finish from four Class 4 outings. By the end of the 2011/12 season, Mad Moose had completed 26 of his 28 career outings – the two exceptions coming when falling at Ffos Las and Uttoxeter. So far, so unremarkable.
Warning Signs
Quite what happened during the summer of 2012 remains a mystery. However, it is at this point that Mad Moose appears to have developed his own ideas about the game. The first sign of the new, unimproved performer came in the BetVictor.com Handicap Chase at Cheltenham, where Mad Moose stood stock still as his 19 rivals galloped into the distance. Having never previously displayed such antics, there was nothing to suggest this was anything more than a one-off aberration.
That opinion was vindicated by the chaser’s four subsequent starts, which culminated in a career-best effort in the Grade 1 Victor Chandler Chase, when finding only the sensational Sprinter Sacre too good.
Madness Takes Hold
Having reached a new peak rating of 143, Mad Moose all but threw in the towel for the remainder of his career. Returning to Cheltenham for the 2013 Byrne Group Plate, the unwilling star looked on, nonplussed, while the other 21 runners set out in pursuit of Cheltenham Festival glory – the only sign of movement coming from an animated Sam Twiston-Davies in the saddle.
Fast forward to the second springtime showpiece at Aintree, and Mad Moose showed renewed commitment to his preferred style of racing, i.e., not racing at all. In all likelihood, he would have struggled to land a blow in a Melling Chase containing Sprinter Sacre, Cue Card, and Finian’s Rainbow. “Why waste the energy?” seemed to be Mad Moose’s motto, as he again trotted to the start but refused to go a single stride further.
New Lease of Life on the Flat…
A change of tack briefly reignited the talent residing within Mad Moose. Making his flat debut at the age of nine, he landed his maiden at Doncaster before finishing second in the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes at Chester.
After all these years, had Mad Moose simply wished to be a flat horse all along? Maybe. But then again, maybe not. Well fancied for the Listed Grand Cup at York, he left the starting stalls – but only at walking pace, and only for two strides.
His fourth and final flat appearance came in the 2013 edition of the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot. This time, he did reluctantly consent to race. However, he gave up so much ground with his tardiness that he lost all winning chance, ultimately sauntering across the line a massive 203 lengths adrift of the winner!
Ending in Familiar Style
Abandoning the flat project, connections returned to jumping in the 2013/14 season. However, by this stage, Mad Moose was devoted to the easy life. His return in the Shloer Chase produced a repeat of his Queen Alexandra Stakes outing, as he plodded around in his own time.
His finest mickey-taking moment then came in the Tingle Creek Chase. Against all expectations, Mad Moose started in unison with his Grade 1 rivals. However, the gelding immediately realised the error of his ways. Moving from a gallop to a stroll in the space of 20 yards, he had pulled up completely long before arriving at the first fence. This effort resulted in a possibly overdue BHA ban, which prohibited Mad Moose from racing for the remainder of the 2013/14 campaign.
Having served his ban, Mad Moose returned for one last inglorious hurrah in the 2014 International Hurdle. A 371-day absence had done nothing to locate his enthusiasm. Staying firmly in character, he planted himself at the start, leaving The New One and co to contest the prize while he waited to be escorted back to the comfort of the stables. A second ban immediately followed. However, that proved unnecessary as connections finally accepted their fate and allowed Mad Moose to head into retirement.
Burkin Leads the Tributes
With his time as a racehorse at an end, Mad Moose joined the yard of Sophie Burkin. Settled into his new home, the infamous icon competed in dressage and showjumping and also took part in the Retraining of Racehorses’ parade at Aintree.
Posted by Sophie Burkin
Devastated to share the news that Moose has taken his final gallop over the hill. Doing what he loved right to the very end and leaving us on his own terms just as he would have wanted.
Run free Moose, my horse of a lifetime. I will love you forever! pic.twitter.com/0DNJLSyVyy— Mad Moose (@MadMooseNTD) September 24, 2025
Despite his issues, Mad Moose’s personality endeared him to racing fans. Those lovable quirks appear to have continued into his later years. Following the sad news of his death, Burkin was among those to pay tribute.
“Devastated to share the news that Moose has taken his final gallop over the hill. Doing what he loved right to the very end and leaving us on his own terms just as he would have wanted. Run free Moose, my horse of a lifetime. I will love you forever.”