Cheltenham Festival hero Shishkin has died after getting cast in his stable and fracturing his leg. The horse had been due to fly to Ireland to compete in the Punchestown Gold Cup on Wednesday, but his death was announced by his trainer Nicky Henderson in a statement posted on social media on Sunday evening.
"Tragically we have lost Shishkin this evening after he got cast in his stable and fractured his hind leg," Henderson
. "Everyone involved with Seven Barrows, particularly his owners, Joe and Marie Donnelly, Jaydon, Nico and George are obviously devastated that such a great horse, friend and warrior has gone.We have some very sad news to break this evening regarding Shishkin. pic.twitter.com/RZScNQ3NFG
— Nicky Henderson (@sevenbarrows) April 28, 2024
"He was due to leave for Punchestown tomorrow morning but sadly this is now not to be. He was an absolute superstar and his CV is testament to that - except the King George is not in it even though we believe it should have been.
"The Supreme Novice Hurdle and the Arkle were his Cheltenham highlights, but the battle with Energumene in the Clarence House at Ascot was probably his greatest. This is a very sad night. He was our star and we will never forget him. Thank you Shishkin for the wonderful memories."
Shishkin made a name for himself during the 2019/20 season and tasted victory in all but one of his first 12 races under rules. He won the 2020 Supreme Novices' Hurdle and backed that up with Arkle success a year later as he got the better of Eldorado Allen. And arguably his greatest performance came in the Clarence House at Ascot in 2022 when he tussled with Willie Mullins-trained Energumene and won by just one length.
Shishkin won the Denman Chase at Newbury earlier this year but missed the Cheltenham Festival because of poor scope. The horse went on to finish fourth in the Grade 1 William Hill Bowl at the Grand National Festival at Aintree earlier this month in his final ever race.
News of Shishkin's death prompted a string of condolences as the horse racing community paid tribute to the icon.
And Racing TV presenter Jess Stafford posted a video to
of the horse overcoming Energumene as she penned: "Shishkin the warrior. A fantastically talented racehorse that had it all imo and this race will go down as one of the greatest horse races of recent time. My thoughts go out to all those involved with him. Heartbreaking to hear he was put down today."Shishkin the warrrior. A fantastically talented racehorse that had it all imo & this race will go down as one of the greatest horse races of recent time.
— Jess Stafford (@jess_stafford_) April 28, 2024
My thoughts go out to all those involved with him. Heartbreaking to hear he was put down today 💔
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