A horse named Hansard died after sustaining a fatal injury during the Arkle race on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival, which began on March 10 and runs through March 13. Hansard, trained by Gary and Josh Moore and owned by the Noel Fehily Racing Syndicate, was quickly attended to by veterinary professionals but was euthanized shortly after the race due to the severity of the injury. Cheltenham racecourse expressed condolences to the horse’s connections following the incident.

The death has reignited criticism from animal rights groups, with PETA’s Vice President Elisa Allen highlighting the broader issue of horse fatalities in UK racing. She noted that around 3,000 horses have died in UK racing over the past decade, including 79 at Cheltenham in 25 years, and called for the cancellation of the Cheltenham Festival and all racing events to protect horse welfare.