Dual Cheltenham Festival winner Simonsig has been put down after suffering a a broken leg during a race at the course where he won his biggest races.
The accident happened just moments after his much celebrated stablemate. dual Champion Chase winner Sprinter Sacre, had been paraded on Sunday following the announcement of his retirement because of injury.
Trainer Nicky Henderson said at first Simonsig appeared to be OK.
“It was a hind leg (injury). I thought he was all right when he got up,” Henderson said.
“I can’t get this right. You have tears in every single way.
“You all know what the game is like. It tests us, and it is one of those things.
“It (Sprinter Sacre’s retirement) was not a funeral, but a celebration of life, but now we’ve got the funeral and the tears all of a sudden go the other way.
“It is not fair for the team more than anything.”