A fourth horse has died on the 2026 Cheltenham Pageant following the demise of Envoi Allen within the Gold Cup
4 horses have died at Cheltenham this 12 months: Envoi Allen, Hansard, HMS Seahorse and Saint Le Fort (Picture: Getty)
Saint Le Fort died after falling on the closing hurdle of the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle within the final race of the 2026 Cheltenham Pageant. He’s the fourth horse to die on the Pageant after Hansard on day one, HMS Seahorse on day two and Envoi Allen following Friday’s Gold Cup.
A spokesperson for Cheltenham Racecourse stated: “Saint Le Fort was instantly attended to by a group of skilled veterinary professionals throughout our seventh race of the day, however sadly sustained an damage when falling on the closing hurdle. Of their evaluation, it was concluded that one of the best plan of action for the horse’s welfare was for him to be humanely euthanised. Our heartfelt condolences are along with his connections.”
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The British Horseracing Authority’s Director of Equine Regulation, Security and Welfare, James Given, stated: “We’re all devastated in regards to the deadly accidents this week, and our ideas are with everybody related with the horses. All runners on the Pageant are supplied with an intensive and thorough verify by vets on the racecourse earlier than competing.
“On account of British racing’s dedication to decreasing avoidable danger, the deadly damage charge has lowered to fewer than 5 in each 1,000 runners. The fatality charge at Cheltenham Racecourse prior to now 5 years is strictly according to this.
“Nevertheless, we by no means simply settle for these damage charges. As with all deadly damage, these incidents will now be checked out intimately via our fatality assessment course of, which is a part of the game’s dedication to ongoing enhancements in racehorse security.
“Danger can by no means be fully eradicated. British racing is clear in regards to the dangers concerned within the sport and publishes knowledge concerning damage charges on its web site at HorsePWR.co.uk.”
Envoi Allen was the opposite horse to die on Gold Cup day on the Cheltenham Pageant after collapsing (Picture: Getty)
The Jockey Membership – organisers of the Cheltenham Pageant – says it really works repeatedly to minimise the dangers at its occasions and says the business has spent £63m on equine welfare since 2000.
The Jockey Membership says knowledge reveals the speed of fallers in horse races has declined in all the final 21 years and is now simply 1.98% of runners. The deadly damage charge in 2025 was simply 0.22% of 86,300 runners, in keeping with its figures.
It acknowledged that current enhancements embody altering of markers on jumps on all racecourses from orange to white, following analysis into equine imaginative and prescient; a change to padded hurdles to cut back fallers; and the introduction of an in depth assessment course of inside 48 hours of each fatality on a racecourse.
The Jockey Membership stated that the racing business commonly consults with established welfare organisations resembling World Horse Welfare, RSPCA and Blue Cross to make sure it frequently meets the best requirements.
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