Sunday’s third and ultimate day of the November Assembly at Cheltenham was overshadowed by the dying of three horses.
Abuffalosoldier collapsed after successful the Holland Cooper Handicap Chase, the fourth race of the day.
A press release from the racecourse mentioned the seven-year-old, ridden by Sean Bowen and skilled by Warren Greatrex, “was instantly attended (to) by professional veterinary professionals however sadly couldn’t be saved”.
They added: “Our heartfelt condolences are along with his connections.”
Earlier in the identical race, Bangers And Money, from the Ben Pauling yard, additionally collapsed when it was pulled up after the 14th fence.
Within the fifth race of the day, Napper Tandy, skilled by Matthew Smith, sustained a deadly damage after falling two hurdles from dwelling.
A British Horseracing Authority spokesperson mentioned: “The losses of Abuffalosoldier, Bangers And Money and Napper Tandy at Cheltenham as we speak are a tragedy for all connections and the ideas of all of us on the BHA are with them.
“All three have been supplied with excellent care and a spotlight all through their lives by those that cared for them and no one shall be extra heartbroken tonight than these people.
“As with all fatalities, we are going to search to know the circumstances behind every incident as we attempt to proceed to cut back avoidable danger in our sport.”
After the deaths of Abuffalosoldier and Bangers and Money, Liam Kearns, lead veterinary surgeon for Jockey Membership Racecourses, advised Racing TV: “(In) each circumstances we name them cardio-vascular collapse, as you possibly can’t say at this stage whether or not it’s a true coronary heart assault or whether or not it’s a main blood vessel that has ruptured. However it’s of that nature and due to this fact it’s a sudden dying scenario.
“The vets are deployed throughout the racecourse so each horses have been attended inside seconds and in these conditions of acute collapse there are some medicine we are able to administer but when it’s a true cardio-vascular collapse, not so much could be executed.
“It is a high-intensity racing scenario. We’ve comparable when marathon runners run or long-distance races are run – there’s at all times a priority that athletes at a excessive stage of exertion can with none earlier signs current this case.
“It is an enormous coincidence that it occurred twice in the identical race.
“All horses are completely checked at dwelling earlier than they go away to go to the races, they’re monitored fastidiously once they arrive on the races and trainers and connections love them to bits – no horse would go to the races with any prior information of a scenario like this.
“It’s a type of sudden issues that may strike.”
