Three horses suffer fatal injuries in one day on all-weather tracks

06 September 2023 , 17:58

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Mick Appleby: trained two of the horses who were fatally injured (Image: PA)

British racing was coming to terms with a brutal day on the racecourse when three horses suffered fatal injuries.

They died after running at two of Wednesday’s all-weather meetings at Lingfield and Southwell.

Trainer Mick Appleby lost two members of his stable when Boarhunt broke down with a furlong to run in a 7f handicap at Lingfield and Motowaafeq fell two furlongs out in a 1m handicap at Southwell.

In a later race at Lingfield the Sir Mark Prescott-trained Arcadian Friend had to be pulled up after dropping to last in a 2m handicap.

Appleby said on the X platform, "It is with a heavy heart that we have to post that we lost Boarhunt and Motawaafeq.

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"Such sad news and we are devastated, so sorry for their connections."

The loss of three horses on the Flat in separate incidents in one day is rare and will be examined by the BHA to see if anything can be learnt.

A BHA spokesperson said: "Our thoughts are with everyone connected to the horses lost today. Nobody will be more affected than the trainers, owners and stable staff who will have provided these horses with first class care throughout their lives.

“The BHA works tirelessly to reduce all avoidable risk for horses racing in Britain and, as is always the case, we will speak with those involved and seek to understand any learnings arising from today’s incidents.

“The sport’s commitment to improving the safety and wellbeing of all involved has seen the injury rate in British racing reduce by over one third in the last 20 years. While risk can never be eradicated entirely, the fatal injury rate in British racing is extremely low. In flat racing they occur in fewer than one in every 1,000 runners.”

Jon Lees