Cheltenham Festival: Copper Gone West becomes first horse to die at 2020 event
by Editor 2019
Copper Gone West has become the first horse to die at the Cheltenham Festival, casting a shadow over the third day of racing.
The seven-year-old mare trained by Tim Vaughan was ridden by Alan Johns in the 2:10pm Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle, but was pulled up shortly before the end of the race.
However, it was confirmed by Cheltenham officials that Copper Gone West had to be put down after suffering a fatal injury during the race.
“Devastated to have lost Copper Gone West at Cheltenham today,” said Vaughan via his Twitter account. “A wonderful horse, she will be greatly missed by all of us at Pant Wilkin and by her adoring owners Paul and Louise.
The race was eventually won by Sire Du Berlais, who clinched back-to-back wins in the Pertemps following a tight battle with stablemate The Storyteller, though the victory was soured by the tragic news.
The first two days of racing passed without any fatalities at Cheltenham, though the death of Copper Gone West renewed calls for action to be taken against the British Horseracing Authority over the welfare of race horses.
Animal rights group Animal Aid said in a statement: “Despite the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) review of Cheltenham in 2018 – due to an appalling record of deaths – their recommendations have failed horses yet again at the Prestbury Park course.
“The excessive number of 24 runners in the race was clearly the cause of Copper Gone West’s death. On the final turn she took a heavy bump to her shoulder from another horse which resulted in a fatal injury. She was destroyed on the Cheltenham course just minutes later.
“Whilst Animal Aid does not support horse racing, a positive step for race horses’ safety would be to replace the BHA with an independent horse welfare body.”
Shape Created with Sketch.Cheltenham Festival 2020 winners
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left Created with Sketch.right Created with Sketch.
Shape Created with Sketch.Cheltenham Festival 2020 winners
1/27 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
Nico de Boinville celebrates following victory in the the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle aboard Shishkin.
PA
2/27 Arkle Challenge Trophy
Put The Kettle On ridden by Aidan Coleman celebrates winning the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy.
PA
3/27 Ultima Handicap Chase
Brendan Powell aboard The Conditional celebrates winning the Ultima Handicap Chase.
PA
4/27 Champion Hurdle
Epatante ridden by Barry Geraghty won the Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy on day one at Cheltenham.
Getty
5/27 Mares’ Hurdle
Honeysuckle (right) took the Mares’ Hurdle in a thrilling victory to upset Benie Des Dieux.
Getty Images
6/27 Novices’ Handicap Chase
Imperial Aura on the way to victory with David Bass in the Novices’ Handicap Chase.
PA
7/27 National Hunt Chase
Jamie Codd celebrates victory in the National Hunt Challenge Cup after riding Ravenhill to victory.
PA
8/27 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle
Envoi Allen ridden by jockey Davy Russell on their way to winning the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle
PA
9/27 RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase
Champ ridden by jockey Barry Geraghty (left) on their way to wining the RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase
PA
10/27 Queen Mother Champion Chase
Politologue ridden by Harry Skelton on the way to winning the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham
Getty
11/27 Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle
Jockey Barry Geraghty with Dame De Compagnie after winning the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle
PA
12/27 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase
Easysland clears the last to beat Tiger Roll to victory in the Cross Country Steeple Chase.
PA Images
13/27 Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
Aramax (C) ridden by Mark Walsh on the way to winning the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.
Getty Images
14/27 Champion Bumper
Jockey Paul Townend celebrates winning the Weatherbys Champion Bumper
PA Images
15/27 Marsh Novices’ Chase
Davy Russell (left) rides clear of Melon to win the Marsh Novices’ Chase.
Getty Images
16/27 Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle
Sire Du Berlais ridden by Barry Geraghty celebrates winning the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle
PA
17/27 Ryanair Chase
Paul Townend riding Min (pink) clear the last to win The Ryanair Chase
Getty Images
18/27 Stayers’ Hurdle
Jockey Adam Wedge wins the Paddy Power Stayers Hurdle with Lisnagar Oscar
PA
19/27 Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase
Simply The Betts ridden by jockey Gavin Sheehan celebrates winning the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase
PA
20/27 Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
Concertista ridden by Daryl Jacob on his way to winning the the Daylesford Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
PA
21/27 Kim Muir Challenge Cup
Milan Native ridden by R James clears the water jump during the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase
Getty Images
22/27 JCB Triumph Hurdle
Burning Victory (far side) ridden by Paul Townend coming home to win the JCB Triumph Hurdle
PA Images via Reuters Connect
23/27 Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle
Jockey Barry Geraghty (1st-L) rides Saint Roi to win the Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle Race
AFP via Getty Images
24/27 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
Jockey Paul Townend celebrates on Monkfish after winning the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
PA
25/27 Cheltenham Gold Cup
Al Boum Photo crosses the line to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup
PA Images via Reuters
26/27 St. James’s Place Foxhunter Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase
Jockey Maxine O’Sullivan celebrates with the trophy after It Came To Pass won the St. James’s Place Foxhunter Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase
PA
27/27 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase
Jockey Davy Russell wins the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase with Chosen Mate
PA
1/27 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
Nico de Boinville celebrates following victory in the the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle aboard Shishkin.
PA
2/27 Arkle Challenge Trophy
Put The Kettle On ridden by Aidan Coleman celebrates winning the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy.
PA
3/27 Ultima Handicap Chase
Brendan Powell aboard The Conditional celebrates winning the Ultima Handicap Chase.
PA
4/27 Champion Hurdle
Epatante ridden by Barry Geraghty won the Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy on day one at Cheltenham.
Getty
5/27 Mares’ Hurdle
Honeysuckle (right) took the Mares’ Hurdle in a thrilling victory to upset Benie Des Dieux.
Getty Images
6/27 Novices’ Handicap Chase
Imperial Aura on the way to victory with David Bass in the Novices’ Handicap Chase.
PA
7/27 National Hunt Chase
Jamie Codd celebrates victory in the National Hunt Challenge Cup after riding Ravenhill to victory.
PA
8/27 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle
Envoi Allen ridden by jockey Davy Russell on their way to winning the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle
PA
9/27 RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase
Champ ridden by jockey Barry Geraghty (left) on their way to wining the RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase
PA
10/27 Queen Mother Champion Chase
Politologue ridden by Harry Skelton on the way to winning the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham
Getty
11/27 Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle
Jockey Barry Geraghty with Dame De Compagnie after winning the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle
PA
12/27 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase
Easysland clears the last to beat Tiger Roll to victory in the Cross Country Steeple Chase.
PA Images
13/27 Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
Aramax (C) ridden by Mark Walsh on the way to winning the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.
Getty Images
14/27 Champion Bumper
Jockey Paul Townend celebrates winning the Weatherbys Champion Bumper
PA Images
15/27 Marsh Novices’ Chase
Davy Russell (left) rides clear of Melon to win the Marsh Novices’ Chase.
Getty Images
16/27 Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle
Sire Du Berlais ridden by Barry Geraghty celebrates winning the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle
PA
17/27 Ryanair Chase
Paul Townend riding Min (pink) clear the last to win The Ryanair Chase
Getty Images
18/27 Stayers’ Hurdle
Jockey Adam Wedge wins the Paddy Power Stayers Hurdle with Lisnagar Oscar
PA
19/27 Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase
Simply The Betts ridden by jockey Gavin Sheehan celebrates winning the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase
PA
20/27 Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
Concertista ridden by Daryl Jacob on his way to winning the the Daylesford Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
PA
21/27 Kim Muir Challenge Cup
Milan Native ridden by R James clears the water jump during the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase
Getty Images
22/27 JCB Triumph Hurdle
Burning Victory (far side) ridden by Paul Townend coming home to win the JCB Triumph Hurdle
PA Images via Reuters Connect
23/27 Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle
Jockey Barry Geraghty (1st-L) rides Saint Roi to win the Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle Race
AFP via Getty Images
24/27 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
Jockey Paul Townend celebrates on Monkfish after winning the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
PA
25/27 Cheltenham Gold Cup
Al Boum Photo crosses the line to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup
PA Images via Reuters
26/27 St. James’s Place Foxhunter Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase
Jockey Maxine O’Sullivan celebrates with the trophy after It Came To Pass won the St. James’s Place Foxhunter Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase
PA
27/27 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase
Jockey Davy Russell wins the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase with Chosen Mate
PA
However, animal rights group Peta called for the immediate suspension of the Festival as the death of Copper Gone West continues on from last year’s events, when three horses died during the week.
“When you consider that three horse died at the Cheltenham Festival last year, the death of Copper Gone West today wasn’t only tragic – it was predictable,” said Peta director Elisa Allen. “No one would be raising a glass or placing bets if cats or dogs were the ones being whipped, being forced to jump dangerous obstacles, shattering their ankles, breaking their necks, and being shot in the head right on the track – and horses deserve no less sympathy.
“This is a stain on the UK’s reputation as a nation that cares about animals, and Peta is calling for an immediate end to this year’s festival to prevent any more senseless cruelty to animals.”