Hansard, an eight-year-old horse trained by Gary and Josh Moore, has died after competing in the Singer Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival. The horse, a long-shot outsider in the race, pulled up after sustaining an injury.
A statement from the Jockey Club confirmed the incident: 'While running on the flat in the second race of the day, Hansard sustained a fatal injury. He was quickly dismounted, immediately attended by a team of expert veterinary professionals, and their assessment concluded that the best course of action for the horse's welfare was for him to be put down.'
The Arkle Chase was won by Kargese, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Danny Mullins. Speaking to ITV, Danny Mullins praised the horse and trainer: 'I've always had a good relationship with her. Everyone was expecting us to burn off in front... I knew I hadn’t burned the petrol early, and the final furlong is where she did her best work. Willie is just a master, it's great to be part of that team.'
Horse racing, like all sports, carries inherent risks, but the Jockey Club, which owns 15 racecourses and organises both the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals, said it works tirelessly to minimise these risks. Since 2000, the racing industry has invested over £63 million in equine welfare, including veterinary science, education, and research.
British racing's independently-chaired Horse Welfare Board has implemented a long-term strategic plan called 'A Life Well Lived'. The rate of fallers has declined for 21 consecutive years, now at just 1.98 per cent of runners, while the fatal injury rate in 2025 was 0.22 per cent of 86,300 runners. Changes include switching jump markers from orange to white based on equine vision research, introducing padded hurdles to reduce fallers by 11 per cent, and conducting a detailed review within 48 hours of every fatality.
The industry consults regularly with welfare organisations such as World Horse Welfare, the RSPCA, and Blue Cross. Over 80 per cent of people report improved perceptions of horse welfare after visiting studs, training yards, and aftercare centres. National Racehorse Week, offering 65,000 free places for visits, takes place from August 22nd to 31st this year. Horse racing remains the second-most attended sport in the UK, with five million attendees in 2025.
