Nelson Put Down After Serious Leg Injury

Ireland's leading Vodafone Derby hope Horatio Nelson tragically suffered fatal injuries in the closing stages of the blue riband at Epsom yesterday.

Kieren Fallon's mount, eighth in the 2000 Guineas on his penultimate start, was sent off the well-supported 11-2 second-favourite.

Concerns about the horse's soundness had emerged down at the start when his rider began trotting the colt around under the watchful eye of trainer Aidan O'Brien.

After consultation with a racecourse vet Horatio Nelson was allowed to take his chance.

He raced in touch with the leaders and was in seventh place with just under two furlongs to go when the horse stumbled and was immediately pulled up by Fallon.

The horse ambulance was quickly in attendance and the horse taken away for examination.

But it later transpired the colt's injuries were too serious and he was put down.

A Horseracing Regulatory Authority statement said: 'Horatio Nelson was examined at the start of the Derby by one of the racecourse veterinary surgeons who consulted Aidan O'Brien, who was present at the start.

'The veterinary surgeon and the trainer agreed that they were satisfied that Horatio Nelson was fit to compete.

'Following the race the horse was taken to the veterinary treatment centre and several X-rays were taken of the injured leg.

'They revealed that Horatio Nelson had suffered fractures of the cannon and sesamoid bones and a dislocation of the fetlock joint.

'Sadly the injuries were considered to be too severe to be repaired and the horse has therefore been euthanized.'

There was damage to the ligaments and nerves around the horse's joints and with open wounds, which could already have been infected, there was a unanimous decision taken by the five vets present that it was a hopeless case and it was in the horse's best interests to put him down.

The vets were John Halley, the Coolmore vet, Peter Webbon and three racecourse vets.

Webbon, chief executive of the HRA, added: 'The trainer and the vet at the start, Jenny Hall, discussed the way the horse was moving.

'I was satisfied that had the trainer believed the horse's life was being put at risk by competing in the race there is no possibility he would have let it run.'

Explaining the post-incident procedure, Webbon continued: 'You have to give every horse the possibility of being saved.

'With fractures in the lower limb it is quite feasible to support them satisfactorily and transport the horse.

'If they fracture a shoulder or a pelvis there is no way you can support it but with modern, very potent sedatives it's perfectly feasible to support the leg so the horse is pretty comfortable to travel down to the stables.

'Then you can get the X-ray pictures and then you can consult the trainer and consult the trainer's vet.

'Obviously they spoke to the owners and you can then make a decision in a reasonable time ? a properly measured decision.

'The horse had a very extensive examination. They have some extremely sophisticated equipment down at the stables.

'The response by the horse ambulance was very quick. With the possible exception of the big meetings in the States we would the fastest anywhere in the world.'

A dejected Fallon left the course without taking his mount on Indian Trail in the closing race.

(C) PA Sport