Auroras Encore, the 66-1 outsider who won the 2013 Grand National, has died at the age of 24 following a peaceful retirement on the farm.
The horse, trained throughout his career by Sue Smith, secured a nine-length victory at Aintree under jockey Ryan Mania. Owners Douglas Pryde, Jim Beaumont and David van der Hoeven shared in the success of the son of Second Empire, who was bred by Mountarmstrong Stud in Ireland and earned £725,737 in total prize money over his career.
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A second horse death and allegations of racial abuse between jockeys overshadowed key races on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival. HMS Seahorse died after a fall in the BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle, prompting renewed calls for a boycott. Irish amateur jockey Declan Queally accused British rider Nico de Boinville of verbal and racial abuse before the Turners Novices’ Hurdle.
Il Etait Temps secured a dominant victory in the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase on day two of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival, marking a strong performance for Irish runners. The day featured five Irish wins out of seven races, including surprises in the Grand Annual and Cross Country Chase, amid celebrations for Ladies Day. Tragedy struck with the death of HMS Seahorse in the BetMGM Handicap Hurdle.
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Forever Young, a 2024 Kentucky Derby participant, secured victory in the Saudi Cup (G1) on February 14, marking a strong return in his 5-year-old debut. Publisher, from the 2025 field, also triumphed in a recent allowance race at Oaklawn. These performances highlight ongoing success for several Derby alumni in stakes and allowance competitions.
Sadie Smith rode Times Rococo to victory in the Baileys Horse Feeds novice freestyle gold on the opening morning of the NAF Five Star Winter Dressage Championships at Addington. Eli Lovell claimed the HorseHage Preliminary Gold title with Parchioness G, while Alice Begg topped the Petplan Medium Silver Area Festival Championship on Noraly. The event on 15 April featured strong performances from young horses and new partnerships.
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Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo won the Mars Badminton Horse Trials for a record third time on 10 May after a clear showjumping round. The pair finished 8.2 penalties ahead of the field to make history at the event.
A horse named Souper Dormy was euthanized following a fall during a race at Gulfstream Park on February 15, 2026. Another horse, Lights of Broadway, also fell but reportedly walked off the track. Jockey Mario Gutierrez was taken to a hospital with a sore hip.
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British Isles surged to victory in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap, pulling off a 7-1 upset over the heavily favored Just a Touch. The 5-year-old gelding won by 4 1/4 lengths under jockey Diego Herrera, marking the rider's first Grade 1 triumph. Trainer Richard Baltas secured his second Big 'Cap win with the horse.