Racing fans pay tribute as two horses tragically die of suspected heart attacks in the same race at Cheltenham

TRAGEDY struck astatine Cheltenham arsenic 2 horses, including the winner, suffered suspected bosom attacks and passed distant successful the aforesaid race.

Abuffalosoldier produced a magnificent circular of jumping connected his mode to triumph nether Sean Bowen successful the Holland Cooper Handicap Chase - but helium precise sadly collapsed aft the race.

And Ben Pauling's Bangersandcash besides collapsed during the contention and was aboriginal confirmed to person died from a 'cardiac failure'.

The winning jockey Bowen was inactive connected Abuffalosoldier's backmost and had conscionable concluded an interrogation unrecorded connected ITV erstwhile the Warren Greatrex-trained runner went down.

The chances of 2 horses suffering fatal cardiac events successful the aforesaid contention are incredibly remote, and the quality of the 2 deaths near the large assemblage astatine Cheltenham deflated and sombre.

Both horses were attended to instantly by on-course vets, but neither were capable to beryllium saved.

A connection from Cheltenham racecourse read: "The victor of our 4th race, Abuffalosoldier, collapsed aft the enactment and was instantly attended by adept veterinary professionals, but sadly could not beryllium saved. Our heartfelt condolences are with his connections.

"Bangersandcash was instantly attended to by our adept veterinary squad but sadly sustained a fatal injury. Our heartfelt condolences are with his connections."

Chief vet connected people astatine Cheltenham Liam Kearns said: "The equine jumped everything fantastically well, helium was afloat of moving up to the decorativeness but helium collapsed soon aft the past and sadly died precise quickly.

"This was a cardiovascular collapse, it could beryllium a bosom onslaught it could beryllium a large artery, we won't cognize until the station mortem is done.

"In the payment situation, each these horses are thoroughly checked implicit astatine home, they won't travel to the races if their connections aren't blessed with them.

"They are checked connected accomplishment astatine the races, the vets squad cheque them implicit erstwhile they get here. There are vets dotted astir the people keeping an oculus connected them.

"But successful a highly diversion enactment similar this determination is an unfortunate hazard of this happening and we volition effort to mitigate it, but we cannot region each risk."

Racing fans expressed their sadness connected societal media, with 1 saying: "Thoughts with each connections of these brave boys. Very precise sad"

Another said: "Truly devastating news, everyones thoughts present are with each the connections.

While different posted: "Horrifically bittersweet for each involved. Such a fantastic contention the victor ran. This is heartbreaking."

And the time took different dreadful crook erstwhile the Matthew Smith-trained Knapper Tandy suffered a fatal autumn successful the Greatwood Hurdle.