Darlan Fatal fall at Doncaster :(

KautoStar1

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from the RP website a few minutes ago. RIP Darlan


• McCoy stands down
Tony McCoy is not injured but he has stood himself down from his two remaining rides at Doncaster today. (9 mins ago)
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Henderson on Darlan
Nicky Henderson was in tears after Darlan's fatal fall and said: "It's some game, isn't it? Why is it always the good ones." (12 mins ago)
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Fatal fall for Darlan
It has been confirmed Darlan took a fatal fall at the last flight at Doncaster in the 32Red Hurdle. (14 mins ago)
 
He looked absolutely magnificent going down to the start. But there was no way he was going to get up from that.

I do feel that if AP had kept him covered up until over the last and then gone for the line he'd have won easily. As it was he pulled him out with only a couple of strides to the final flight, got him unbalanced and .......... tragedy.

Condolences to all his connections and particularly his groom.

RIP Darlan
 
Absolutely gutted :(


He was the stand out horse for me when C4 recently toured NJH yard - looked amazing. Only 6 - had a very promising future ahead of him and would have been my tip for the Champion Hurdle after impressive run last time out at Kempton

Horrible end for a super talented horse - condolences to all connected with him


RIP boy xxx
 
Was watching on ATR, horrible, horrible sight. Ive been watching horse racing for over 40 years and I dont think Ive ever seen such a close up shot (not deliberately but it was a 2 horse finish) of a horse falling, or ever been so sure that the horse was not going to get up. As NJH apparently said afterwards, "its some game"! Condolences to all connections x
 
So so sad he was such a talented little horse and quite a looker too, really feel for all those connected with him they must be in pieces :(
RIP Darlan xxx
 
He's just one of the many victims of National Hunt racing, isn't he? Entirely predictable that some will die, he's just one of many. It is not relevant to me how good or bad a horse he was; it's no better for a slower horse to die racing than a fast one, other than for the punters and the owners and trainers who expected to make lots more money out of him.
 
He's just one of the many victims of National Hunt racing, isn't he? Entirely predictable that some will die, he's just one of many. It is not relevant to me how good or bad a horse he was; it's no better for a slower horse to die racing than a fast one, other than for the punters and the owners and trainers who expected to make lots more money out of him.

Probably not a particular kind or well timed comment at this moment..
 
The most dreadful news. The Darling Boy. His Owners, Trainer, Jockey and importantly those who dealt with him on a daily basis, his Lads and Lasses, have my deepest sympathies. They must be distraught.

Awful, and a black day.

a.
 
He's just one of the many victims of National Hunt racing, isn't he? Entirely predictable that some will die, he's just one of many. It is not relevant to me how good or bad a horse he was; it's no better for a slower horse to die racing than a fast one, other than for the punters and the owners and trainers who expected to make lots more money out of him.

cpt, the trick for you may be to study the art of "Timing". Yours is out.

Alec.
 
Probably not a particular kind or well timed comment at this moment..

It wasn't meant to be.

If you will put horses into a sport which is documented as killing so many of them, I simply don't get the hand-wringing when one of them predictably dies. And especially not the "and he was such a fast racehorse" ones, as if it matters more that he died than a bottom of the heap selling plater.
 
Public forum Alec. Go to a Racing forum if you want your grief to pass without comment from another point of view.

You are of course, fully entitled to your own opinion but choosing now to criticise the owners and associates is poor timing as there will be people who are understandably upset.
 
Cptrayes - treat others as you would like them to treat you. Darlan's connections are distraught for losing a friend. There are many times that a comment like yours is best left unsaid. This is one of those times.
 
You are of course, fully entitled to your own opinion but choosing now to criticise the owners and associates is poor timing as there will be people who are understandably upset.

I have not criticised either the owners or their associates.

I have not, contrary to what you probably think you have read, criticised racing.

What I have done is comment on emotional hand-wringing over something which is simply part and parcel of everday racing. If we had the same reaction over every NH horse that has died during or because of a race this season then I would understand. But why only this one? Because he was pretty and ran fast?
 
Sorry but I'm with CPTrayes on this one. It is incredibly sad that Darlan has died but he is one of many poor horses that lose their lives because of man's greed. Sad but true I'm afraid and I get sick of people trying to hush it up.

RIP beautiful boy x
 
Cptrayes - treat others as you would like them to treat you. Darlan's connections are distraught for losing a friend. There are many times that a comment like yours is best left unsaid. This is one of those times.

I have had no contact with Darlan's connections.

My contact is with you guys wringing your hands over a horse who you never knew. And in that respect I am treating you exactly as I would expect to be treated myself.

I also don't know any people who expose their friends to such risk and I think it is ridiculous to describe something that is routine in NH racing in that way.
 
He's just one of the many victims of National Hunt racing, isn't he? Entirely predictable that some will die, he's just one of many. It is not relevant to me how good or bad a horse he was; it's no better for a slower horse to die racing than a fast one, other than for the punters and the owners and trainers who expected to make lots more money out of him.

Oh You again the sensitive one !

RIP a Darlan doing what he was bred to do
 
It wasn't meant to be.

If you will put horses into a sport which is documented as killing so many of them, I simply don't get the hand-wringing when one of them predictably dies. And especially not the "and he was such a fast racehorse" ones, as if it matters more that he died than a bottom of the heap selling plater.

Completely agree.

It's a tragedy that he died, but no more than any other horse. I hate hearing about these inevitable fatalities. :(
 
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NH racing has it's stars just as any other sport (equine or otherwise) and Darlan was a rising star. Those commenting on here are saddened at the untimely death of this horse and wish to express sympathy to connections. If you don't feel the same, you don't need to read this thread or comment do you? As you say you're perfectly entitled to your opinion as are those of us that feel sorrow at the loss of a lovely young horse. Your comments are ill timed

As an aside, remember all the coverage on TV after Fabrice Muamba suffered that awful heart attack? A guy I went to school with (I'm 37) collapsed and died last weekend whilst playing football for his local team whilst his partner and 5 month old daughter looked on. I don't imagine outside of my locality there has been much "hand wringing" at that either but obviously he will be deeply mourned by those who love him. Being critical of those expressing the genuine symapthy they feel is unnecessary
 
NH racing has it's stars just as any other sport (equine or otherwise) and Darlan was a rising star. Those commenting on here are saddened at the untimely death of this horse and wish to express sympathy to connections. If you don't feel the same, you don't need to read this thread or comment do you? As you say you're perfectly entitled to your opinion as are those of us that feel sorrow at the loss of a lovely young horse. Your comments are ill timed

On the contrary, I feel dreadful hearing the news of Darlan's death, poor lad. But why do people who profess to love horses put them into such a risky situation? And why is it worse because a horse is famous or promising? The only thing that is worse is that the human connections will be robbed of some glory. Other than that, it is no worse for the horse that is famous, than the horse that is not.
 
On the contrary, I feel dreadful hearing the news of Darlan's death, poor lad. But why do people who profess to love horses put them into such a risky situation? And why is it worse because a horse is famous or promising? The only thing that is worse is that the human connections will be robbed of some glory. Other than that, it is no worse for the horse that is famous, than the horse that is not.

No one is saying it is worse - it is more visible as this was a high profile horse at a high profile time in the racing calender. I feel equally sorry for connections that lose a horse on a rainy Wednesday at Taunton - and I'm sure they feel it just as keenly


It's a shame that these threads always have to turn into a debate on whether anyone connected to the racing world can have any feeling for the horses involved. Pretty narrow view to assume all are just glory hunting, money obsessed sons of Lucifer! BTW, some may be interested to know, AP McCoy wasn't stood down today - he gave up his remainig rides as he was distraught as what happened to Darlan. Nicky Henderson was also in tears. Don't assume you know how these people feel


I love my horses and yet I hack on the roads, I team chase, I hunt .... all of which carry a degree of risk to my horses. I must be an awful, unfeeling bitch ... poor horses
 
It is desperately sad for any horse. There is risk in any situation. There are horses all over the world that have much worse lives than racehorses who are well fed and cared for. Racehorses are bred and produced to do just that and the vast majority love their job. Without that job they wouldn't be born and I'm sure there are more creatures on this earth that would choose a short life than no life at all.
 
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