Former Grand National winning horse dies after winning race

File Photo: Many Clouds ridden by Leighton Aspell is cooled down after winning the 4.15 Crabbie’s Grand National Chase

Reuters / Darren Staples

Former Grand National winning horse Many Clouds collapsed and died after winning a horse jumping race at Cheltenham in England on Saturday.

The 10-year-old horse crossed the line first in the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham’s Festival Trials Day but collapsed shortly afterwards and was pronounced dead by veterinary staff.

Many Clouds, owned by Trevor Hemmings, won the 2015 Grand National and Gold Cup trial and the Hennessy Gold Cup in 2014.

Trainer Oliver Sherwood paid tribute to the horse whose death was met by stunned silence at the course.

“I always said he’d die for you, and he has today, doing what he loved most,” Sherwood said.

“He wanted to win that race, by God he wanted to win it — he was beat at the last and he fought the last 50 yards to get up and win.

“I’ve trained for 32 years now and horses like that don’t come along very often.’’

A similar incident occurred on May 21, 2016 when Homeboykris, a nine-year-old horse who won the first race of the Preakness race died of an apparent heart attack shortly after leaving the winner’s circle.

It was supposed to be a great day for horse racing at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, unfortunately, the day began with a very sad event.

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