Saint Le Fort died in the final race of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival on Friday.
He was running in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle before falling at the last hurdle. Veterinary professionals immediately rushed to the horse after he dropped to the floor.
However, Saint Le Fort passed away and became the fourth horse to die at Cheltenham this week, after Hansard on day one, HMS Seahorse on day two and Envoi Allen following Friday’s Gold Cup.
A spokesperson for Cheltenham Racecourse said: “Saint Le Fort was immediately attended to by a team of expert veterinary professionals during our seventh race of the day, but sadly sustained an injury when falling at the final hurdle. In their assessment, it was concluded that the best course of action for the horse’s welfare was for him to be humanely euthanised. Our heartfelt condolences are with his connections.”
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The British Horseracing Authority’s Director of Equine Regulation Safety and Welfare James Given said: “We are all devastated about the fatal injuries this week and our thoughts are with everyone connected with the horses.”
Envoi Allen was the first to die on day four at the Festival, after he collapsed during the Gold Gup. A spokesperson for Cheltenham Racecourse said following his passing: “After completing in our fifth race of the day, Envoi Allen collapsed on course. He was immediately attended to by a team of veterinary experts, but sadly passed away.
“Envoi Allen was a supremely talented horse, and our heartfelt condolences are with all his connections.”
Like all sports, horse racing involves risks, but The Jockey Club – the owners of 15 racecourses in the UK and the organisers of both the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals – work tirelessly to continuously minimise the risks at its events.
Since 2000, the racing industry has invested more than £63 million in equine welfare, including veterinary science, education and research.
British racing has an independently-chaired Horse Welfare Board, whose long-term strategic plan ‘A Life Well Lived’ is already yielding results.
The rate of fallers in horse races has declined in all of the last 21 years and is now just 1.98% of runners. The fatal injury rate in 2025 was just 0.22% of 86,300 runners.
Some of the changes made include the changing of markers on jumps on all racecourses from orange to white, following research by Exeter University into equine vision, the change to padded hurdles after data found this would reduce fallers by 11% and the introduction of a detailed review process within 48 hours of every fatality on a racecourse.
The racing industry regularly consults with established welfare organisations such as World Horse Welfare, RSPCA and Blue Cross to ensure it continually meets the highest standards.
Over 80% of people say their perceptions of horse welfare change after visiting studs, training yards and aftercare centres. Sixty-five thousand free places for visits to centres become available during National Racehorse Week, which this year takes place from August 22nd to 31st.
With five million attendees in 2025, horse racing is the second-most attended sport in the UK behind football.