- The three-year-old was in outstanding form and had won his race in Chester
- The horse however took a false step, landing awkwardly and fracturing his foot
- Trainer Charlie Appleby, who had flown in, was visibly shaken by the event
The opening to Chester’s historic May meeting was marred on Wednesday when the brilliant colt Hidden Law was fatally injured in front of stunned racegoers.
Hidden Law was owned by Godolphin, the operation of Sheikh Mohammed, trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by William Buick. The trio had enjoyed outstanding success at Newmarket last Saturday when Notable Speech had won the QIPCO 2000 Guineas.
Appleby’s horses are in outstanding form and Hidden Law had initially thrilled spectators with a sweeping turn of foot that had carried him to a three-and-a-half length win in the Boodle’s Chester Vase. It was a performance that had thrust the three-year-old, who only raced for the first time in March, firmly into the reckoning for the Epsom Derby.
But immediately after passing the winning post, Hidden Law took a false step as he navigated a crossing that allows cars to leave the course. He landed awkwardly and suffered a fracture to his right front foreleg; he was immediately attended to by racecourse vets but could not be saved.
The incident, which changed the atmosphere immediately, was broadcast live on ITV4. It was a sickening situation for Appleby, who had flown up from his Newmarket base for the race. He was visibly shaken by what had happened.
Three-year-old Hidden Law died moments after claiming victory in the Chester Vase on Wednesday
The horse too a false step following the race and couldn’t be saved despite being immediately attended to
‘We can only go on what we had seen and dream of what he could have been in the future,’ said Appleby. ‘It’s very disappointing. Most importantly, I’m so very sorry for His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and Team Godolphin. What can I say? It’s one of those unfortunate freak accidents.
‘To have a horse like him potentially coming through the ranks was very exciting for everyone. It’s a sad day. I have to thank everyone at Chester, they have been so accommodating with their dealings and what they have done. I’m sorry for his groom, Wayne, and all the staff at Moulton Paddocks.’
A question often asked in these situations is why a broken leg means a horse must be euthanized. Champion trainer John Gosden, who saddled Pappano in the Chester Vase, provided important insight into the situation.
The horse’s trainer, Charlie Appleby (pictured) was visibly shaken by what had happened
‘They are not very tolerant,’ he said on ITV 4. ‘Someone with a broken leg will lie in bed with their leg extended for a while. Horses don’t like that – they don’t like being confined. They like to roam free, if you like, in big fields and paddocks. They’re not good patients.
‘Being such fit athletes put into sudden inactivity, that can cause problems in other legs with laminitis, which is another issue altogether. The track is in absolutely pristine, perfect condition so it’s nothing to do with the surface. It’s not a very common occurrence but it can happen.’
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