Cross-posted from The Guardian
WRITTEN BY GREG WOOD
CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND — Two horses were killed here on Wednesday to bring the total number of deaths to three after two days of this year’s Festival.
Stack The Deck, who was running in the Champion Bumper, a flat race, and Akdam, who was brought down by a faller in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, both suffered fatal injuries during their races on Wednesday afternoon.
The demise of that pair was in addition to the high-profile death of the strongly fancied Our Conor, who was killed after a fall in the Champion Hurdle on Tuesday.
The three deaths so far this Festival add to the 11 over the past five years, including five in 2012.*
Our Conor, the brilliant winner of the Triumph hurdle 12 months ago, was put down after sustaining a back injury. “Horses are horses. You can replace a horse. It’s sad, but horses are animals, outside your back door. Humans are humans. They are inside your back door. You can replace a horse. You can’t replace a human being. That’s my feeling on it.”
The British Horseracing Authority on Wednesday pointed to an improvement in equine fatality statistics. Its spokesman Robin Mounsey said: “Everyone in the sport of racing regrets the loss of a horse, especially those who are close to the horses in question. The welfare of horses and riders is of paramount importance.
“British racing is open and transparent about the risks involved to both horse and rider. Over the last 15 years, the equine fatality rate in British racing has fallen by one-third, from 0.3% to 0.2% of runners.” Read full report >>
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*NOTE: In 2006, 11 horses died and in response the racecourse decreased the number of runners in certain races and re-sited one of the more difficult fences.
On the opening day of the 2012 festival, three horses had to be euthanised after suffering bone fractures or breaks, including two during the Cross-Country Chase, becoming the second and third equine fatalities in that race since 2000.
There were two further equine fatalities during the 2012 Festival, and some critics claimed races should not have gone ahead due to the firmness of the ground following exceptionally dry weather.
One horse died last year during the 2013 Cheltenham Festival.
This year’s Festival runs from the 11th – 14th March 2014. There have been three equine fatalities in the first two days.
Featured Image Photo: Our Conor, ridden by Bryan Cooper, goes on to win the JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2013. PA image via the Daily Mirror online.
Tuesday's Horse 
your right arlene a good race is good for both horse and rider, and as well as the rider the horse also knows and tells all that will listen. a horse also knows when his race has been run and my heart goes out to them and bless them . i would hope the owners are not as callus as the media would have us believe. just wrong.
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When horses fall with their riders, at least in my personal experience, they strive to protect him or her, by twisting or holding. That prospective is not respected. There is no real consioderation for the horses in the retelling to the public, as there is back at the stables. I really feel that using the horses in front of the public is pointless – there is no more particIpation or understanding than the thrill they seem to feel watching the competition. This fellow -shticking the media with his horses are functionary; humans are priceless – is the problem. I’m sick at heart about all this. Carriage horses, racing horses, dressage, reining, rodeo broncs. All these horses working so hard to do what they are taught with no real “role in the glory” except they were there “being horses.” I am sure that if the headlines were reading 2 RIDERS dead today, 1 RIDER died yesterday – the attitude of this official would be quite different and the PUBLIC would roust from their selfish slumder.
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A callas and emotionless statement!!!(“Horses are horses. You can replace a horse. It’s sad, but horses are animals, outside your back door. Humans are humans. They are inside your back door. You can replace a horse. You can’t replace a human being. That’s my feeling on it.”) What the heck is the Back Door?????? This is a statement made by a user !!!!! There isnt anyone who enjoys a good Horse Race any better then i do, well maybe the Horse running in it?????To me Both Horse and Rider are equally important !!! The Loss of either is awful, being as the Human knows and understands the Risks involved and the Horse doesnt I have to go with the Horse , he is wanting to please and he loves the Competition, and almost all I have been with absolutely know when they Win !!! And are Proud !!!! Some people use them for their needs never thinking that the magnificent Horse is as valuable as they are !!!!! SHAME ON THESE PEOPLE !!!!! Greed pouring out all over the Original Posted Story !!!!!
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How can anyone bear to go to these races? It would shatter my reality.
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“The welfare of horses and riders is of paramount importance”?
Poppycock! Were that true, these races would be abolished. Shame on all concerned.
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