Sky Sports and Aston Villa presenter Kate Tracey has been left devastated after one of her favourite racehorses, Saint Sam, suffered a fatal injury while racing. The Willie Mullins-trained nine-year-old was an 11-time winner who earned nearly £250,000 in a 33-race career.
Saint Sam contested the Grade 2 Fairyhouse Chase on Monday, for which he was a 13-2 chance. He made the running under Danny Mullins and jumped with zest but was headed when he made a bad mistake at the third last fence, fell, and sustained an injury from which he could not be saved.
Willie Mullins confirmed the sad outcome on the stable's social media, saying: 'A talented and courageous horse, whose victories and spirit will be fondly remembered. RIP Saint Sam.' The race was won by another Mullins star, Energumene, the 12-year-old Champion Chase winner, who scored by six lengths from stablemate Blood Destiny.
Tracey shared her feelings on X, revealing a close connection with the horse. She posted: 'I'm usually very steady in this game but this one hurts. Saint Sam has been one of my favourite horses for years & one of my Cheltenham highlights was getting to see him each year. I always put him back on the lorry to go home & it became a little tradition. Just gutted.'
