Overview
- HMS Seahorse fell at the final hurdle in the BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle on day two and was euthanised after vets determined the injury was irreparable.
- Hansard suffered a fatal injury during the Arkle on the opening day and was put down following immediate veterinary assessment on welfare grounds.
- Cheltenham Racecourse said expert veterinary teams attended both incidents immediately and offered condolences to the horses’ connections.
- Trainer Paul Nolan described HMS Seahorse as “a cracking little horse,” reflecting the yard’s sadness after the fall.
- The League Against Cruel Sports renewed calls for a public boycott and government action, citing about 80 Cheltenham Festival deaths since 2000, while the RSPCA counted these as the 20th and 21st UK racing fatalities this year and pressed for stronger safety measures.