Two more horses die on final day of Cheltenham

Four 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.

A spokesperson for Cheltenham Racecourse said both horses had been immediately attended to by a team of expert vets.

The spokesperson said Envoi Allen was a "supremely talented horse and our heartfelt condolences are with all his connections".

Speaking about Saint Le Fort, she added: "In [the vets'] assessment, it was concluded that the best course of action for his welfare was for him to be humanely euthanised."

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 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.

Cheveley Park Stud director Richard Thompson said: "We didn't see [the collapse]. The vets OK-ed them all [after the race] and Darragh [O'Keeffe, the jockey] said 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 said: "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."

The British Horseracing Authority said the fatalities would be "looked at in detail" as part of standard protocol to improve racehorse safety.

James Given, BHA's director of equine regulation safety and welfare, said: "We are all devastated about the fatal injuries this week and our thoughts are with everyone connected with the horses."

He said the fatal injury rate of racehorses had been reduced to fewer than five in every 1,000 runners, which was also the rate at Cheltenham over the last five years.

He added: "Risk can never be entirely eliminated."

Given 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 said.

He said all horses were subject to a standard pre-race examination in the morning before the race.

"[Envoi Allen] had his heart listened to, he was trotted up, his limbs were checked. Everything was normal as you'd expect," he said.

Emma Slawinski, chief executive at the League Against Cruel Sports, said: "The death of a fourth horse in just 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 shocking death toll of horses that have died at the festival has reached 82.

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