Horse Racing: Fatalities
By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw
It has been reported that three horses have died after being injured in separate incidents during the Kempton Park Lanzarote Hurdle event on 10 January 2026.
Kalif Du Berlais, who was part-owned by former Manchester United FC Manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, fell and unseated his jockey. The six-year-old horse sustained a broken shoulder and could not be treated by the racecourse veterinary team. Paul Nicholls, his trainer, described the loss as "a big kick in the teeth … [and a] … sad day."
Two other horses, Wertpol, suffered a fatal fall in the Juvenile Hurdle race, and Peso pulled up with an injury in the Shaker Handicap Chase, and could not, unfortunately, be saved by the veterinary team.
A spokesperson for the racecourse stated that:
"All of us at Kempton Park care deeply about the welfare of all racehorses, as do the thousands of racing staff who provide them with world-class levels of care at home every day.”
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA), the Governing Body, remarked that it will analyse each incident in detail through its fatality review procedure.
A spokesperson for the BHA added that:
"At this stage there does not appear to be any common factor that can be attributed to these incidents, with each of the injuries different in nature and sustained in unique circumstances."
Harry Derham, Wertpol’s jockey, stated that:
"Racing can at times be a painful sport and today has been a tough day for a number of connections.”
And he added:
“A day to forget."
Indeed!
Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw may be contacted by e-mail at ‘
