Two-time Cheltenham Festival winner Shishkin dies after freak stable accident

Shishkin, who was considered as one of the most skilled and durable long-distance racers in the nation, had to be euthanized following a hind leg injury that occurred in his stable on Sunday afternoon.

Trainer Nicky Henderson had a tough end to the season, but he was probably feeling better about things after Jonbon and Fantastic Lady won at Sandown on Saturday.

The 10-year-old horse named Shishkin was scheduled to travel to Ireland on Monday for an important event. He was supposed to compete against Galopin Des Champs, the dual winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, in the Punchestown Gold Cup on Wednesday. Unfortunately, Shishkin suffered a high femur fracture on Sunday afternoon while he was stuck in his stable.

Henderson, who will be running four more horses at Punchestown, expressed his admiration for the late champion. "He had an incredible personality. He won six Grade Ones and was close to invincible in the Supreme and the Arkle. His greatest achievement was the match against Energumene in Ascot. We were certain that we would lose two laps and we realized that two-mile races were too short for us. It took sheer determination to bring him home, he was a fighter to the core."

He said: "The King George was going to be the big day for him. We were all confident he would win, but he always seemed to find a way to make things difficult for himself. It was so typical of him to trip over his own foot. Shishkin had some quirks - he once refused to start and was always a bit challenging at the start of a new season at home."

“He had a great time last season when he spent a whole month with Zara Tindall learning how to do dressage. It was definitely worth his time and he enjoyed the experience very much. Although we are going to Punchestown, it won’t feel quite the same without our main attraction.”

In 2020, Shishkin emerged victorious in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham. The year after, the talented horse claimed the Arkle Novices' Chase title.

When horses roll around in their stable and end up getting stuck with their legs against the wall, they become 'cast'. This usually happens once or twice a month in a large yard like Henderson's. However, the staff can usually turn them back over without any harm or the horses can manage to get up on their own.

After finishing their exercise and working up a sweat, horses often like to take a tumble in a nice bed of fresh shavings or straw. This usually happens when their beds are piled up against the walls to avoid them getting trapped. During this time, there are typically many staff members around to assist. However, this is not the case during the early afternoons or nighttime when the horses are taking a break.

According to Henderson, it is possible to determine if a horse has become trapped or fallen in its stall during the night when it has been left unattended for 11 hours. This is usually indicated by scrapes on the walls or bruising and cuts on the horse's body. However, these injuries are typically minor and not cause for major concern.

It is uncommon for horses to suffer fatal injuries, but unfortunately, the renowned sprinter Highfield Princess experienced a comparable injury during the winter season and could not be rescued.