Overview
- Envoi Allen collapsed after finishing ninth in the Gold Cup and died despite on-course veterinary care, while Saint Le Fort was put down after a fall at the last in the finale.
- Hansard was euthanized following injury in Tuesday’s Arkle, and HMS Seahorse died after a fall in Wednesday’s BetMGM Cup.
- The BHA says all four incidents will be examined through its fatality review process and that every runner receives thorough pre-race veterinary checks.
- The regulator describes Envoi Allen’s death as Exercise Associated Sudden Death, a phenomenon it reports at about nine in every 10,000 jump runs, with overall fatalities fewer than five per 1,000 runners.
- The RSPCA urges stronger safety measures following the festival’s toll, which contributes to a total of 82 deaths at Cheltenham since 2000.