Tragic, as a third horse has died at this year’s Cheltenham Festival after collapsing on the way back to the stables following the Gold Cup race.
The horse was considered a legend by fans of the sport, having won three times at Cheltenham.
He was also a 10-time Grade 1 winner, and his death on friday march 13, 2026 follows the deaths of HMS Seahorse on Wednesday and Hansard on Tuesday.
Envoi Allen was, at age 12, the oldest contender in the race, but unfortunately vets were not able to save the horse.
Emma Slawinski, chief executive at the League Against Cruel Sports, said, “A third horse death in only four days is heartbreaking news but not a surprise—every year horses are raced to their deaths at the Cheltenham Festival.
The League Against Cruel Sports charity said the death brings the total at Cheltenham Festival to 81 horses since 2000.
The race was set to be Envoi Allen’s last, with his owners, Cheveley Park Stud previously confirming he would retire.
“Since the turn of the century, the death toll of horses that have died at the festival has reached 81, which is simply shocking,” said charity organization adding, “There would be a huge outcry if this death toll happened in any other sport, so we need to start prioritizing horse welfare.”
A third horse has died at the Cheltenham Festival after running in the Gold Cup.
About the deceased horse—Envoi Allen:
The horse was due to retire following his ninth-place run in the blue riband event. It was his eighth appearance at the festival.
During his career he won 10 Grade One races, having started out with trainer Gordon Elliott before moving to Henry de Bromhead.
He most recently became the first horse to win the Down Royal Champion Chase on three occasions.
Richard Thompson, director of the Newmarket-based Cheveley Park Stud, who owned Envoi Allen, said: “We didn’t see it. The vets OK-ed them all after the race” and Darragh O’Keeffe, jockey said, “He had just retired, and he’s just gone in a minute or two.”
Envoi Allen had won three times at the Festival, landing the 2019 Champion Bumper, the 2020 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, now known as the Turners, and the 2023 Ryanair Chase, as well as placing on a further three occasions.
“He was such an unbelievable horse. This was not the ending we wanted, but unfortunately, that is what has happened. “said Thompson.
“He’s been an incredible servant, wonderful over the years, and this is such a sad way to go and he’s gone doing what he loves; he just retired at that moment. It’s a tough one,” Thompson added.
