A Suffolk racehorse owner recruited craftsmen from the county to create a piece of sporting history.
Pat Betts, whose horse, La Reve, was judged “best shod” at this year’s Grand National, commissioned a trophy for the competition’s winners to receive in years to come.
The trophy, which features one of the shoes worn by La Reve at Aintree, will be presented to Will O’Shaughnessy at the Worshipful Company of Farriers Court Dinner in London tonight.
Mr Betts, 83, who lives in Framlingham, said the judge described the shoe Mr O’Shaughnessy’s made for La Reve as “best he had ever seen”.
Sarah Cole, a Framlingham based jeweller and silversmith, incorporated the shoe into the trophy on a base turned from a piece of wych elm by John Carr, also from the town.
“I think it’s magnificent,” Mr Betts said. “It’s a wonderful piece of work from both Sarah and John.”
La Reve, which translates as “the dream”, finished 11th in the race, which Mr Betts is hoping to build on at next year’s Grand National.
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