World's fastest man has equine rival

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World's fastest man has equine rival _ Usain Colt

July 26 (PTI) -- Watch out Usain Bolt, Usain Colt is running -- and with four legs, he is fast.

The 3-year-old thoroughbred named after the world's fastest man is being lined up for several races in Britain this summer, and his owners hope Usain Bolt will meet his equine namesake while he is in London for the Olympics.

Trying to schedule an appointment with the three-time Olympic champion and 100-meter world record holder is proving difficult, however, with the opening ceremony for London Games in only two days' time.

Bolt has been training in seclusion on a

track at the University of Birmingham, a facility surrounded by thick bushes and patrolled by security.

"Usain Bolt is not the easiest person to get a hold of these days, but I'd like to hope that Usain Colt's chance to meet him after the Olympics would be boosted if the horse wins a race this summer," said Jake Warren, one of the horse's handlers.

Warren said Usain Colt deserves his name even though he has only won once -- a year ago in Newbury.

"He's quite a big horse. He's very athletically built and has lots of character," Warren said. "He's a laid-back horse with a big personality and has a presence like no other."

"Not other than Bolt, of course," he added.

The horse is owned by Ascot Racecourse. Prince Harry is believed to have joined the Birdcage Racing Club run by Ascot, whose 100 members pay an annual fee and share any prize money earned by Usain Colt. MORE (AP) PM PM 07260907

Their aim is to promote the sport amid dwindling interest during the hard economic times. Bolt is aware of Usain Colt's existence.

When Prince Harry visited Jamaica earlier this year, he met Bolt and showed him a picture of the thoroughbred. Bolt was quoted as saying that "to have a race horse named after you by someone who owns it like Prince Harry for me is an honor."

"He's going to do great, takes time, work his way up," Bolt said of the horse.

Like Bolt, Usain Colt has also had problems with his starts in the past year. He was forced out of the Royal Ascot meet, horse racing's biggest event in Britain, and pulled from a recent race in Ireland because rain made the track too soft for him to run.

Usain Colt returned to the track on Wednesday for a seven- furlong race at Sandown. He finished second in a field of 10. "He had an amazing sprint at the end, but was held too far back by the jockey in the beginning and ended a length and half behind the winner," Warren said. "We hoped he'd win, but we hope that the good performance on the track will bring some good luck to Bolt's Olympic 100 race." (AP) PM PM 07260907

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It's lucky for Bolt that he doesn't have a jockey!

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two nices horses named after him

Didjamakembolt

Cyclone U-Bolt

(Both sold to Australian interests) but now with Mark Purdon.

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/jul/26/london-2012-prince-harry-usain-colt

Prince Harry's horse Usain Colt struggles despite sprint finish

• Favourite for race finishes fifth at Sandown Park

• Usain Bolt: 'He's going to do great, it takes time'

Thursday 26 July 2012 10.26 BST

The horse part-owned by Prince Harry and named in tribute to Usain Bolt made a disappointing appearance at Sandown Park on Wednesday – finishing fifth, despite an impressive sprint finish.

Usain Colt, a three-year-old thoroughbred, was favourite before the race, but never recovered from a slow start. Jake Warren, one of the horse's handlers, said they hoped for stronger performances in the days to come. "He had an amazing sprint at the end, but was held too far back by the jockey in the beginning and ended a length and half behind the winner."

Warren said he was still hopeful that Bolt will visit his equine namesake during the Games – but trying to schedule an appointment with the three-times Olympic champion is proving difficult.

"Usain Bolt is not the easiest person to get a hold of these days, but I'd like to hope that Usain Colt's chance to meet him after the Olympics would be boosted if the horse wins a race this summer."

Warren said Usain Colt deserves his name even though he has won only once – a year ago in Newbury.

"He's quite a big horse. He's very athletically built and has lots of character," Warren said. "He's a laid-back horse with a big personality and has a presence like no other. Not other than Bolt, of course."

The horse is owned by Ascot Racecourse, with Prince Harry among the shareholders. When the prince visited Jamaica earlier this year, he met Bolt and showed him a picture of the thoroughbred.

Bolt was quoted as saying: "To have a racehorse named after you by someone who owns it like Prince Harry for me is an honour. He's going to do great, it takes time to work his way up."