Stable in shock after star’s death
Aneurysm claimed ex-scottish National winner
Grand Nationalwinning trainer Lucinda Russell has been left“devastated” by the death of one of her horses following Saturday’s Scottish Grand National.
Mighty Thunder – winner of the 2021 Scottish National – unseated his rider Patrick Wadge during Saturday’s race and later suffered an aneurysm and died back at the racecourse stables.
It was a seismic shock for Russell after the euphoria of Corach Rambler winning the Grand National earlier this month.
Corach Rambler, trained at Lucinda Russell’s Arlary House Stables in Milnathort, triumphed in the world’s greatest steeplechase after bursting clear over the last fence.
But following the sad news of Mighty Thunder’s passing, Lucinda said in a statement: “We [are] all devastated to lose Mighty Thunder.
“Having unseated Patrick in the Scottish National, Mighty was caught and returned to the stables looking fine.
“Unfortunately, he then suffered from an aneurysm, a hole in an artery, and died in the stable area.
“Both Hannah, his devoted groom, and Nicola and Colin, his owners, were with him and the whole event was handled with care and compassion by the vets.
“I have been dreading to write this; the yard and those close to him were in shock and I do not know who posted the news on social media.
“Losing any horse is hard but it is excruciatingly painful to lose one who was loved from the minute that he walked in to the yard seven years ago and who took us all on such a journey including the Scottish Grand National and Edinburgh National in 2021.
“I guess that the current mood of social media makes us uncomfortable to share news of our loss but that is trivial compared to the feeling of emptiness and sorrow that Hannah, Colin and Nicola had as they woke this morning.
“Mighty lived the life of an athlete; he was fed well, exercised carefully and allowed to be a horse in the field and in the stable.
“He knew he was adored and goes down in history with his brave wins.
“His death was due to a weak blood vessel wall; common in pleasure horses, racehorses, humans and other mammals.
“If he had not run yesterday it would have been an issue when he next galloped, in the field or at home.
“It is tragic to lose him. “I know that many of you will want to comment on this post, but please rather than that spend a few moments thanking the horses that you know and Mighty for his bravery and kindness.
“He filled our world with love and we will never forget him.
“A heart will tell us that you care and understand as we are all overwhelmed at the moment.”
Activist group Animal Rising had posted unconfirmed reports on Saturday night that Mighty Thunder had died.
The group, who are seeking to ban the sport, staged a small protest in which 25 people were arrested after breaking onto the track just before the start of the Scottish National.
However, police dealt with the situation swiftly and the race was only delayed by a couple of minutes.
The same group delayed the Grand National by 14 minutes and 118 were arrested.
Losing any horse is hard but it is excruciatinglypainfultoloseonewho was loved from the minute that he walkedintotheyardsevenyearsago