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A really sad end for a horse who had run and jumped over nearly 4 miles in that really taxing heavy ground. I believe he suffered a “catastrophic” injury after the post … much sympathy to all who loved and cared for him.
So sad to be reading this. He gave everything in those attritional conditions and I did find it hard to believe that Harry Cobden didn’t pull him up. I haven’t seen any mention of what the ‘catastrophic injury’ was. I can’t help wondering also if it was a heart attack.
I don’t want to be morbid or judgemental but I really want to know what happened to this poor horse. He was a very talented horse with a bright future.
He went out like a light from four out and was the last one to finish beaten around 85 lengths. He blundered quite badly at the fifth last.
Not many times you see Nicholls’ jockeys showing so much interest in completing the course. He did it in his own time and picked up £4,422….
I was too upset to comment earlier on the loss of this talented horse who ran all his best races at around 2m5f and have to agree with Ruby and others regarding his welfare during the race after making a bad mistake 5 out yet still being ridden in order to collect prize money for 5th place…the phrase ‘flogging a dead horse’ comes immediately to mind and I can’t see any enjoyment involved in picking up around £4000 in prizemoney when a 7 year old thoroughbred has literally given his all…Complete disregard for this horse’s welfare that he lost his life for greed and I feel so sorry for the stable lass/lad who cared for him and would have no doubt preferred that Harry Cobden pulled him up immediately after that bad mistake. Who knows he could have been saved but now they have lost him..
RIP 💔 Complete Unkown
He only did what he was asked to do and paid the ultimate price..poor boy
Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...Can’t add to that Jac well put.
The things I want most in life are the things that I can't win.
Thank you RTB.
We can at least pay tribute to Complete Unknown here and hope against hope that lessons will have been learnt. Jac 😪Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...I too am very sad that Complete Unknown lost his life and would like to understand more about exactly what his injury was.
That said, when these things happen I think we need to be very careful at ascribing blame or thinking badly of connections or assuming that greed was involved.
The mistake that Complete Unknown made early in the straight was no worse than countless other mistakes made in races every day. Indeed Nassalam made a mistake that was almost as bad at the third last. Should all these other horses be pulled up too?
Complete Unknown slowed down after his mistake, but was still running and showing no signs of injury as far as I’m aware. It looked to me like his jockey then let him come home in his own time.
Obviously it is terrible that he died, and not a good look for the sport either. But I think these posts where events are interpreted in the worst possible way are unfair to connections. Sadly there is an unavoidable element of risk, and if we cannot accept it then we probably have to ask ourselves whether racing should continue at all.
Apologies as I am not looking to be disrespectful to anyone. I know all of the comments made come from a caring place as we all love these wonderful horses who make our sport.
RIP Complete Unknown
But, imo, this is why we need to be given a better understanding of what actually happened. Especially as the injury was described as catastrophic. Was it a fracture, a tendon??
Completely respect your opinion Marlingford and possibly greed was a bit harsh on connections as they are probably feeling his loss as we are.
However if the winner had sadly lost his life wouldn’t questions have had to be raised as to what exactly happened to cause his injuries. Like Moe, I think that these are the answers we all want to hear regarding the loss of Complete Unknown.I love this sport as much as anyone but with all due respect I feel that when the headlines say a horse suffered catastrophic injuries in the race we all really need to know what those injuries were and how they happened.
Sadly nothing will bring him back.😪
JacThings turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...Have to agree with all of you. The main thing is to know what catastrophic injury caused his death. You see a lot of horses finishing a race and then declared dead a few weeks later.
Just interested to see, if the stable brings some more light into this.
Thanks for the replies moehat, Triptych and ERL; you are all posters whose views I respect very much.
A clearer understanding of events would certainly be helpful, and I agree that the vague “catastrophic injuries” is unsatisfactory.
For me the key point is whether there was any sign the horse was injured before he finished. If there was, then he should have been pulled up immediately, though I very much doubt that he was showing signs of injury.
As I’ve said in another post recently, I think perhaps it is time that more detail on racecourse deaths appeared in stewards’ reports or in other information published by the BHA.
Totally agree Marlingford about more details on a the injuries sustained by racehorses who suffer fatal injuries appearing in the Stewards reports and BHA publications.
With regard to the fact that Complete Unknown appeared to show no sign of any injury prior to finishing off the race could it have been possible that adrenaline assisted in masking his pain hence allowing him to push himself harder than may have been beneficial to his wellbeing? It was only after the adrenaline subsided that his horrific injuries became apparent. 😢 Jac
Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...Realising that the race was going to result in very tired horses possibly fighting out a finish ( which is so bad for racing) it was a relief to see one horse win it easily and most horses sensibly being pulled up. Which is why it came as such a shock to hear what had happened.In no way do I think that Harry Cobden is the sort of jockey that would continue with a horse if he didn’t think the horse was ok. I’m just confused by it to be honest.
Triptych, I agree with you it’s entirely possible that Complete Unknown incurred an injury when he made a mistake, and that adrenalin masked it until he finished.
The same could have happened to Nassalam when he made his mistake, or any horse that makes a mistake.
It’s such a tricky situation for the jockey. Fortunately horses are usually OK after making a mistake, and many go on to still do well in their race.
I would criticise a jockey for continuing if it was a really bad mistake or the horse was obviously injured. But even then, people’s views of what is a bad mistake will differ – Complete Unknown’s did not look that bad to me.
Sadly I don’t think there are any easy solutions. About the only thing I can say with confidence is that the information provided on equine deaths and retirements is poor, and does not suggest the authorities take welfare as seriously as they profess.
Thanks for the further replies. It’s good to have these discussions as it is such an important topic
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