Cheltenham 2019: Sir Erec put down after horrific injury in JCB Triumph Hurdle as critics say he shouldn’t have run

An animal rights campaign group has criticised the decision to run Sir Erec at the Cheltenham Festival and repeated calls for an immediate suspension to racing after the four-year-old lost a shoe on the way to the start before it was fatally injured in the JCB Triumph Hurdle.

The 10/11 favourite had its shoe refitted moments before the race began and it appeared to trouble it during the JCB Triump Hurdle.

After a long delay to the start of the race while a farrier repaired its broken shoe, Sir Erec sustained an injury while travelling well and the decision was taken to put it down after it fractured its leg.

It was attended to by a veterinary team, who made the decision to euthanize him on "welfare grounds".

The Cheltenham Racecourse confirmed the incident will be reviewed and added: "Our thoughts are with Sir Erec's connections."

The JP McManus-owned horse suffered a stone bruise injury last week but was cleared to run with connections playing down any concern over the problem.

Animal Aid, a group that campaigns against breeding horses to race, said Sir Erec should have been withdrawn and repeated its calls for a suspension for racing.

“Sir Erec should have been withdrawn before the start of the race, having lost a shoe on the way to the start,” said Animal Aid’s Horse Racing Consultand, Dene Stansall.

“Clearly there was something wrong. Even after the shoeing there was no time to assess the horse as being fit to race and we believe that as a consequence he has lost his life.

“If Jockey Club Racecourses – the owners of Cheltenham – and the British Horseracing Authority do not act promptly with purpose and suspend racing after these horse deaths then there will be increasing public and political pressure to end racing at Cheltenham altogether.

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“In addition to this, further pressure is building to remove the British Horseracing Authority from their role as welfare regulator for race horses.”

After Willie Mullins-trained Ballyward died on Tuesday, the charity urged organisers to immediately suspend racing.

League Against Cruel Sports director of campaigns, Chris Luffingham added that this year’s Festival has been a “disgrace”, while Peta tweeted: “There is no excuse for this.”

A report by the BHA stewards found that Sir Erec passed a pre-race Veterinary Inspection earlier in the day. A statement continued: "On arrival at the start, the gelding had spread its right fore plate and was reshod, after which the BHA Veterinary Officer was satisfied with the gelding’s suitability to race.

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"The trainer reported that full radiograph images were taken of SIR EREC (IRE) in the days leading up to the race, which is the usual precautionary custom of the yard with respect to all runners. Mr O’Brien’s Veterinary Surgeon further reported that there had been no radiographic evidence that would indicate anything that may lead to the horse sustaining an injury. Their evidence was noted."

During the Gold Cup later in the day, Invitation Only became the third horse to die at The Festival this year and the 91st at Cheltenham since 2008.

Nico de Boinville won the race on 20/1 Pentland Hills and said: “My thoughts are with those involved with Sir Erec.”

Winning trainer Nicky Henderson added: "It's terrible. Such a gorgeous looking horse."