A tragic incident occurred at Ascot on Friday resulting in a horse sustaining a fatal injury and a jockey being hospitalized. The accident took place during the Sodexo Live! Handicap race, with one furlong left as the race leaders were making their moves.
Champion jockey Oisin Murphy, riding Excellent Echo, fell, and Nordic Norm, ridden by Sam James, also went down. While Murphy swiftly got back on his feet, Excellent Echo, who suffered a broken leg, continued running before being stopped by his handler near the finish line.
Privacy screens were set up around the three-year-old horse, trained by Dominic Ffrench Davis, as veterinary professionals tended to the injured animal with the help of a horse ambulance on-site.
During the aftermath, Sam James remained on the track for some time, with Oisin Murphy by his side, until an ambulance arrived to transport him to the hospital. A spokesperson from Ascot confirmed the unfortunate outcome for Excellent Echo and provided updates on the condition of the jockeys.
The Stewards at Ascot expressed their intention to investigate potential interference during the race involving the horses and riders but had to postpone the inquiry due to the medical attention required for the jockeys. Investigations into the incidents are set to resume at a later date.