A tragic incident occurred at Ascot on Friday during the Sodexo Live! Handicap race, resulting in the death of a horse and a jockey being hospitalized. The unfortunate event took place as the race leaders were nearing the final furlong of the 7f race.
Champion jockey Oisin Murphy, riding Excellent Echo, fell during the race, while Nordic Norm, ridden by Sam James, also went down. Despite Murphy quickly getting back on his feet, Excellent Echo sustained a severe leg injury and had to be guided off the track by his handler near the finish line.
To provide privacy, black screens were put up around the three-year-old horse, trained by Dominic Ffrench Davis, as veterinary teams attended to the injured animal with a horse ambulance on standby.
On the track, James remained lying down for some time until medical assistance arrived. He was then carefully placed on a stretcher and transported to the hospital for further evaluation. A spokesperson from Ascot confirmed the tragic outcome for Excellent Echo and provided updates on the condition of the jockeys involved.
Stewards at the event expressed their intention to investigate potential interference during the race, focusing on the incident that led to the fall of Excellent Echo and the subsequent impact on other horses and riders. However, due to the medical attention required by the jockeys, the inquiry was postponed to a later date for a comprehensive review of the events.
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