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Third horse dies at Cheltenham, in his last race

James Jackson March 13, 2026

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Third Horse Dies at Cheltenham in Final Race

Envoi Allen, a 12-year-old thoroughbred, succumbed to a collapse during his last appearance at the Cheltenham festival. The horse finished ninth in the prestigious Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, the event’s flagship competition, before losing consciousness.

His owners, Cheveley Park Stud, had announced their intention to retire the animal after this race, marking his eighth participation at the festival. Envoi Allen’s career included 10 Grade One victories, beginning under the care of Gordon Elliott’s stable before transitioning to Henry de Bromhead’s training program.

Two additional horses, HMS Seahorse and Hansard, also perished at the festival this year. The incident has prompted concerns about race-day safety and procedures.

“Lessons must be learned from tragedies like this—examining contributing factors, pre- and mid-race decision-making, and methods of prevention,” stated RSPCA in a recent release following the second horse’s death.

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has yet to provide details on the deaths via its official website. However, it initiated a review of race starts at Cheltenham after a sequence of false starts.