A tragic incident unfolded at Ascot on Friday when a horse suffered a fatal injury and a jockey had to be hospitalized. The incident occurred during the Sodexo Live! Handicap race over 7f, with only one furlong left in the race.
In the midst of the race, Excellent Echo, ridden by champion jockey Oisin Murphy, fell, leading to Nordic Norm, ridden by Sam James, also falling. While Murphy quickly got back on his feet, Excellent Echo, who sustained a broken leg, managed to move up the track before being stopped by the handler near the finish line.
Privacy screens were put up around the injured three-year-old horse, trained by Dominic Ffrench Davis, and a horse ambulance and veterinarians were on the scene to attend to the injured animal.
During the incident, James remained on the track for some time until an ambulance arrived. He was then carefully stretchered into the ambulance and taken to the hospital for further evaluation.
A spokesperson for Ascot confirmed the unfortunate outcome, stating that Excellent Echo had suffered a fatal injury, while Oisin Murphy, the jockey, was unharmed. Nordic Norm was taken to the stables for assessment with minor injuries, and Sam James was conscious and receiving medical attention before being transferred to the hospital.
Following the incident, a stewards report mentioned a planned inquiry into potential interference during the race, involving several horses and riders. However, the inquiry was postponed due to the medical attention required by the affected individuals.
The investigation into the fall of Excellent Echo, which occurred near the finish line, was also delayed due to ongoing medical assessments. The stewards announced that both inquiries would be resumed at a later date.
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