08/05/2025
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To all you Mappos Lion fans, we owe you this post.
A lot of you have the expectation of seeing our boy in that much anticipated draw for the Gold Cup and Saucer eliminations. And to be honest we were very cautiously optimistic. But in the days since his last race, Lion has given us signs that he might want to sit this year out. To him we will listen. We will never compromise his quality of life, he’s given us far too much to ever risk that. He is a very valued member of our family and anyone who has spent any time with Lion knows just how special he is.
Despite a battle with tendon and ligament issues all year, he has never shown us a sign that he was done. In fact, it was just the opposite. He has gone onto that track with game and grit and has once again given us a ride of a lifetime. We knew he would tell us when it was time to “whoa”, and he has done just that.
So in the coming weeks, Lion will head home to where he was born, to the place he is most happy. We can’t tell you for certain that Saturday was the last time you’ll see him on the track, but if it was, we are so happy with how his career ended. He went out in true Lion fashion, with class and as a champ. We will see what the future brings but as we keep saying “he owes us nothing”.
This post doesn’t come to you with sadness. Sure, there might have been a brief moment of disappointment. But mostly this post comes to you with gratitude. For a career nothing shy of amazing. For the countless happy memories we have made with Lion. Gratitude for a chance to be in the position to own a horse of his class. Gratitude for his ability to bring us all together and for the people he has brought into our lives. Gratitude for the countless times we have said and heard “Mappo would be so proud”.
His surface level story is one for the books, but when you dive deep down into every nook and cranny of his story, it’s truly a best selling novel. Maybe one day we will share the whole story, but for now we will relish in the little horse who was born on the funny farm in Baddeck, who used to roam free in the yard cleaning out the garden. Our Little Lion ♥️
Thank you all for coming along for this ride, we haven’t once taken a second of it for granted and there haven’t been many days go by when we haven’t said “we are so blessed”.
As we get ready to head into the most anticipated race week of the year, may you all have fun and most importantly race safe. Best of luck to you all!
With love and much gratitude,
The Lion’s Den