Two more horses die on final day of Cheltenham

March 13, 2026 No Comments

Fourth horse dies at Cheltenham on final day13 minutes agoShareSaveLeigh BoobyerWest of EnglandShareSavePA MediaEnvoi Allen was set to retire after competing at this year’s Cheltenham FestivalFour horses have died at this year’s Cheltenham Festival – two on the final day.Envoi Allen, which finished ninth in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase, collapsed just after the race.Saint Le Fort was put down after falling at the final obstacle during the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.Following the death of Envoi Allen, a spokesperson for Cheltenham Racecourse reported the horse was “immediately attended to by a team of veterinary experts but sadly passed away”. The race organisers were asked for comment about the death of Saint Le Fort.The spokesperson added Envoi Allen was a “supremely talented horse and our heartfelt condolences are with all his connections”.The tragedies follow the deaths of HMS Seahorse on Wednesday and Hansard on Tuesday.

Saint Le Fort competing in a race in February this year

PA Media A jockey in blue rides a dark brown horse. They are landing an obstacle and are seen side-on. — Saint Le Fort competing in a race in February this year

According to the League Against Cruel Sports charity, the deaths bring the total at Cheltenham Festival to 82 horses since 2000.

The race was set to be Envoi Allen’s last, with its owners Cheveley Park Stud previously confirming he would retire.

At age 12, the horse was the oldest contender in the Gold Cup race.

He was considered a legend by fans of the sport, having won three times at Cheltenham. He was also a 10-time Grade 1 winner.

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Cheveley Park Stud director Richard Thompson reported: “We didn’t see [the collapse]. The vets OK-ed them all [after the race] and Darragh [O’Keeffe, the jockey] reported he was pricking his ears, then he came up and went over as he was coming out of the chute.

“He had just retired and he’s just gone in a minute or two.”

Thompson added: “He was such an unbelievable horse. This was not the ending we wanted, but unfortunately that is what has happened.

“He’s been an incredible servant, wonderful over the years, and this is such a sad way to go.”

O’Keeffe reported: “Everything was grand and I was happy out there. He pulled up A1 and everything like that, but when we were trotting back [after the race] he collapsed.

“He was unbelievable and a special horse. He won numerous races and it just happened so fast.”

Darragh O’Keeffe rides Envoi Allen during the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase

PA Media Three horses land after jumping fences. They are seen from below and are being ridden by jockeys during the Gold Cup race at Cheltenham. Large stands are in the distance. — Darragh O’Keeffe rides Envoi Allen during the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase

James Given, of the British Horseracing Authority, told Racing TV Envoi Allen had “almost certainly” had a “very acute cardiovascular collapse”.

“It happened very quickly, the vets were immediately with him but he was passing very quickly,” Given reported.

He reported Envoi Allen had been subject to a standard pre-race examination in the morning before the race.

“He had his heart listened to, he was trotted up, his limbs were checked. Everything was normal as you’d expect,” he reported.

Andrew Thornton, a Gold Cup-winning jockey, told BBC Radio 5 Live the death was a “real dampener”.

“He was a magnificent horse, and it was his eighth time at the festival,” he reported.

‘Simply shocking’

Emma Slawinski, chief executive at the League Against Cruel Sports, reported: “A third horse death in only four days is heartbreaking news but not a surprise – every year horses are raced to their deaths at the Cheltenham Festival.

“Since the turn of the century, the death toll of horses that have died at the festival has reached 81, which is simply shocking.

“There would be a huge outcry if this death toll happened in any other sport, so we need to start prioritising horse welfare.”

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