A horse tragically lost its life and a jockey was rushed to hospital following a horrifying incident at Ascot on Friday. The accident occurred during the Sodexo Live! Handicap, over 7f, with one furlong remaining.
Excellent Echo, ridden by champion jockey Oisin Murphy, fell and Nordic Norm, under Sam James, also hit the turf. Murphy quickly got back on his feet but Excellent Echo, who had suffered a broken leg, managed to make his way up the track before being caught by his handler near the winning post.
Black screens were put up around the Dominic Ffrench Davis-trained three year old for privacy and a horse ambulance arrived on the scene while vets attended to him.
Meanwhile, James lay on the track for several minutes, with Murphy standing by, until an ambulance arrived on the track. The jockey was then stretchered into the waiting vehicle and taken to hospital.
An Ascot spokesperson said: “Unfortunately following an incident during the seventh race today, Excellent Echo suffered a fatal injury.
“His jockey, Oisin Murphy, walked in and was fine. Nordic Norm was taken to the stables for further assessment with cuts and scratches. His jockey, Sam James, was conscious and treated by medical teams on the track and has been transferred to hospital for further assessment.”
A stewards report stated: “The stewards wished to hold an enquiry into possible interference approaching the 1 furlong marker involving the winner, Forty Years On, ridden by Callum Shepherd; Nordic Norm, which later was brought down, ridden by Sam James; and Tactical Plan, unplaced, ridden by Jim Crowley, but were unable to do so as James was receiving medical attention. The enquiry was adjourned to a date to be confirmed.”
It continued: “The stewards wished to hold an enquiry into the fall of Excellent Echo, approximately 1 furlong from the line after the gelding appeared to clip the heels of Dannick, placed second, but were unable to do so as Murphy was still undergoing medical assessment. The enquiry was adjourned to a date to be confirmed.”