There was a tragic postscript to the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup when Envoi Allen died in front of the grandstands.
The 12-year-old was having his eighth race at The Festival and had won here three times – on the flat, over hurdles and fences – in a marvellous career for owners Cheveley Park Stud.
Trained by Henry de Bromhead, who won the last race on the card with Air Of Entitlement, Envoi Allen had accrued more than £1.1million in prize money and had been prepared specifically for the Gold Cup after winning at Down Royal last November.
This was going to be the last race of his career but, as the gelding was returning to the paddock, he collapsed. Racecourse vets immediately attended to the 33/1 shot, who was ninth of the 10 finishers, and screens were erected for privacy but he had suffered a heart attack.
‘He has finished the race, he had been checked by the vets but then, just as he was about to go down the chute, he went down,’ said Richard Thompson, the Director of Cheveley Park.
‘He had literally just retired. He had crossed the line and had done what he loved. It’s unbelievably cruel but that is how life goes. It’s a tough one for everyone.’
James Given, the BHA’s respected Director of Equine Safety and Welfare, said: ‘Such an episode is known as Exercise Associated Sudden Death and can occur in horses of all breeds when under exercise.
‘In racing it is rare, occurring in only nine in every 10,000 runs in Jump races. British racing is involved in pioneering research, including the use of wearable technology, to help better understand the causes of this and how it can be avoided.’
There had been two fatalities earlier in the week – Hansard on Tuesday and HMS Seahorse on Wednesday.
Jockey Darragh O’Keeffee 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.’
A statement from Cheltenham Racecourse read: ‘Envoi Allen was immediately attended to by a team of vets but sadly passed away. We send our heartfelt condolences to all connections.’
‘Gutted about Envoi Allen. A Cheltenham legend,’ one person wrote in a tribute on X.
Another posted: ‘The news about Envoi Allen is heartbreaking. A horse who gave us so many moments. The Champion Bumper, the Ballymore, and three Down Royal Champion Chases to name but a few.
‘As Richard Pugh said in commentary during his final victory: “they can start commissioning the statue.”‘
Another wrote: ‘Heartbreaking news following the conclusion of the Cheltenham Gold Cup as ENVOI ALLEN is sadly no longer with us. The word “legend” is thrown around a fair bit but he certainly fell into that category for me – especially at Down Royal and Cheltenham.’
One said: ‘Life is so, so cruel. Devastating news about Envoi Allen. Rest in peace old boy, run free. Completely sickening.’
Envoi Allen could have had many more years of life ahead; the average lifespan of domesticated horse reaches between 25 and 30 years.
He achieved his first Grade 1 Cheltenham success in the Champion Bumper in 2019 while he was trained by Gordon Elliott.
In 2020, he added the Novices’ Chase to his trophy cabinet with Davy Russell onboard.
He was welcomed to De Bromhead’s yard in 2021 and went on to achieved further success under him, claiming the 2023 Ryanair Chase jockeyed by Rachael Blackmore.
Envoi Allen was still competitive until the end of his life. In November, he claimed a record third Down Royal Champion Chase, adding to his triumphs in 2022 and 2024.
A crowd of 67,106 had come through the gates on Gold Cup day, taking the attendance for The Festival to 226,223 – an eight per cent increase on the 218,093 of last year.
