Fans in attendance at Cheltenham were left horrified and shocked after a horse died seconds after winning a race.
Abuffalosoldier collapsed immediately after it had won the 2:55 on Sunday at Cheltenham with medics rushing to its aid. They immediately surrounded the horse with green screens, which is the standard course of action taken when an animal collapses.
However, unfortunately, the 2:55 winner died at the scene. A statement from Cheltenham Racecourse read: “The winner of our fourth race, Abuffalosoldier, collapsed after the line and was immediately attended by expert veterinary professionals, but sadly could not be saved. Our heartfelt condolences are with his connections.
Bangers and Cash, another horse racing in the 2:55 at Cheltenham, also suffered a fatal fall. The statement continued: “Bangers And Cash was immediately attended to by our expert veterinary team but sadly sustained a fatal injury. Our heartfelt condolences are with his connections.”
And on Sunday, there was also another horse, Napper Tandy, who died. A statement from the British Horseracing Authority read: “The losses of Abuffalosoldier, Bangers And Cash and Napper Tandy at Cheltenham today are a tragedy for all connections and the thoughts of all of us at the BHA are with them. All three were provided with outstanding care and attention throughout their lives by those who cared for them and nobody will be more heartbroken tonight than those individuals.
(Image: PA)
“As with all fatalities, we will seek to understand the circumstances behind each incident as we strive to continue to reduce avoidable risk in our sport.All factual data relating to fatal injury rates in British racing can be found at www.horsepwr.co.uk and the overall fatal injury rate in Jump racing is 0.42% of runners.”
Speaking on ITV, broadcaster Ed Chamberlain confirmed the news of the incident. Chamberlain said: “I’m afraid the news has just come through Jon Pullin here at Cheltenham that Abuffalosoldier collapsed and died after our latest race here at Cheltenham. It’s desperate really for Esme Cook who looked after the horse, Sean Bowen who rode such a brave winner of the race.
“He jumped so brilliantly – heroic. And Mahler and the Wailers, the owners who we heard from beforehand and poor Warren Greatrex, the trainer as well. So desperately sad, this is one sport that takes you the highs and lows, I’m afraid.”
Chamberlain added: “It is a very sad and sombre Cheltenham right now.”
British racing has self-imposed and enforced welfare standards, with millions of pounds invested into research and education. Statistics show 14,000 horses in Britain enjoy a high level of care and a quality of life. In the last 20 years, a constant commitment and investment in minimising avoidable risk has seen the number of horses sustaining fatal injuries decreased by a third to 0.18 per cent of runners by 2021.
Injuries are sadly part and parcel of horse racing and can also happen while at home training around a paddock, or at a racecourse. Independent research by the Centre for Equine Studies at Liverpool University found horses are nearly five times more likely to sustain serious injury when in a field at home than during ridden exercise.