Second horse death at Cheltenham Festival as calls grow for boycott and government action

A second horse, HMS Seahorse has died at this year’s Cheltenham Festival after sustaining a fatal injury, reinforcing calls by national animal welfare charity the League Against Cruel Sports for a public boycott and government intervention.

It brings the death toll at the Cheltenham Festival to 80 horses since the turn of the century with Animal Aid figures showing a horse dying at every single festival since the year 2000.

The death of HMS Seahorse follows the death of Hansard earlier in this year’s Cheltenham Festival.

At last year’s festival there were also two deaths, Springwell Bay being the first casualty before Corbetts Cross died in the festival’s flagship Gold Cup event.

Emma Slawinski, chief executive at the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “Every year horses are raced to their deaths at the Cheltenham Festival and while the death of HMS Seahorse will sadden all animal lovers, tragically it is not a surprise.

“The death toll of 80 horses at Cheltenham festival since the turn of the century is simply staggering.

“If this death toll happened in any other sport there would be a huge outcry so why is it any different for horses.”

Emma added: “We are calling on the public to boycott the Cheltenham Festival by staying away, not betting on the races or watching the ITV coverage and advertising which accompanies it.

“The government promised the biggest boost for animal welfare in a generation and now it needs to deliver by tackling the terrible death toll at Cheltenham and introducing tighter safety measures in horse racing and banning the use of the whip.”

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Notes to editors

For information or interview requests, please contact the League Against Cruel Sports Press Office on 01483 524250 or email pressoffice@league.org.uk

Animal Aid has published a new report called ‘Victims of British and Irish horse racing’.

The League Against Cruel Sports is Britain's leading charity that works to stop animals being persecuted, abused and killed for sport. The League was instrumental in helping bring about the landmark Hunting Act 2004, the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021, the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act 2023 and bans on the use of snares brought about by the Agriculture (Wales) Act 2023, and Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024.

We carry out investigations to expose law-breaking and cruelty to animals and campaign for stronger animal protection laws and penalties. We work to change attitudes and behaviour through education and manage wildlife reserves. Find out more about our work at www.league.org.uk. Registered charity in England and Wales (no.1095234) and Scotland (no.SC045533).