Zoe Smalley, a key member of Henry de Bromhead’s team, paid an emotional tribute to Envoi Allen following the legendary horse’s death at the Cheltenham Festival.
The 12-year-old, who was having the final run of his career, collpased and died following the Gold Cup – his eighth run at the Festival.
Throughout his illustrious career, Envoi Allen secured 10 Grade One victories, initially trained by Gordon Elliott before transferring to Henry de Bromhead, and recently made history as the first horse to claim Down Royal’s Champion Chase three times.
The De Bromhead team won the final race of the week as Air Of Entitlement landed the Martin Pipe, with travelling head girl Zoe Smalley paying an emotional tribute to Envoi Allen afterwards.
“It’s devastating. You never want to see it happen to a horse ever, but he was a really special horse,” she said.
“He was amazing and I’m just pleased it was quick, painless, he was in a place that he loved, and, significantly to us, a rainbow popped up just afterwards.”
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Cheveley Park Stud director Richard Thompson added: “We didn’t see it. The vets OK-ed them all (after the race) and Darragh (O’Keeffe, jockey) said he was pricking his ears, then he came up and went over as he was coming out of the chute.
“He had just retired and he’s just gone in a minute or two.
“He’s finished the race, the vets have had a look, he’s walked on and he’s gone down before the chute.”
Envoi Allen had triumphed three times at the Festival, claiming the 2019 Champion Bumper, the 2020 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, now known as the Turners, and the 2023 Ryanair Chase, whilst also achieving three further placings.
Thompson added: “He was such an unbelievable horse.
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“This was not the ending we wanted, but unfortunately that is what has happened.
“He’s been an incredible servant, wonderful over the years, and this is such a sad way to go.
“He’s gone doing what he loves, he just retired at that moment. It’s a tough one.”
James Given, BHA director of equine health and welfare, detailed the procedures before and after races in such circumstances.
Envoi Allen (blue cap) during the Gold Cup
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Envoi Allen (blue cap) during the Gold Cup(Image: Adrian Dennis / AFP via Getty Images)
Speaking on Racing TV, he said: “All the horses are looked at and passed fit to come down the walkway back into the parade ring, and just as he got to the bottom he had what is almost certainly a very acute cardiovascular collapse.
“It happened very quickly, the vets were immediately with him but he was passing very quickly. Horses who haven’t been racing for a whilst might be subject to more investigation, but he’d already won a Grade One over three miles this season.
“He had the normal pre-race examination this morning, he had his heart listened to, he was trotted up, his limbs were checked. Everything was normal as you’d expect.
“He was then looked at after the race, it is a cursory to check nothing is going wrong with any of the horses and they are allowed to come down the chute. Sadly events overtook him.
“He will have a post-mortem, that will be conducted tomorrow, he will also have a fatality test to check nothing has been given to him – I’m not suggesting any of Henry’s horses will have been, but we need to make sure there is nothing in his system that shouldn’t be there, though it is highly unlikely.
