Triple Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate Dies On Racetrack

Triple Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate has died on the Exeter racetrack as he collapsed and died after his run in Tuesday's William Hill Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter the much-loved horse, trained by Henrietta Knight seemed to be in some distress after being pulled up by jockey Paul Carberry.

But as he was being brought back to the course stables, he collapsed with a suspected heart attack and died.

"I think he died doing what he enjoyed doing," said trainer Knight.

Best Mate, who won the 2002, 2003 and 2004 Cheltenham Gold Cups had been ruled out of the 2005 race after suffering a burst blood vessel and the Exeter race marked his return to the track.

Under the guidance of Carberry for the first time after the retirement of Jim Culloty, he had been well-placed behind leader Ashley Brook early on.

But Carberry started to nudge the Jim Lewis-owned 10-year-old on as the leaders moved clear.

The race was won by 10-1 chance Monkerhostin.

Trainer Henrietta Knight was quickly on the scene after the horse collapsed.

"I was actually on the track where he came down and I was the first one there. I knew immediately he had died," she said.

"As I saw him go down I knew I was seeing a dead horse and I just wanted it to be over as quickly as possible.

"I have ridden a horse before who suffered a heart attack while I was on board and I have to say this looks reminiscent of that. The legs go, they wobble and then they go down.It hasn't sunk in yet but I am honoured to have had a wonderful horse like him to train and he really put my yard on the map."

Knight's husband and assistant Terry Biddlecombe added: "Paul is a good jockey and he knew something was wrong. The only consolation is it was pretty instantaneous and he wouldn't have felt any pain."

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