Tributes have been flooding in for Kauto Star, the only horse ever to regain the Cheltenham Gold Cup, who has been put down after suffering pelvis and neck injuries in a paddock fall.
The events leading up to the 15-year-old's death are not clear, but it is believed he injured himself while put out to grass last week.
The Racing Post reports that he was put to sleep after he "was hospitalised and given intensive medical treatment... over the weekend to try and save his life after Wednesday's fall".
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Owner Clive Smith told the Post: "I am devastated. He had been turned out... and he looks to have jumped something, and stumbled, we're not really sure, but he injured himself - and it became obvious it was serious."
Kauto Star, who won the King George VI Chase at Kempton five times in addition to the two Gold Cup wins, was one of the most popular horses of recent times. Trained by Paul Nicholls he won 23 of his 41 outings before being retiring in 2012.
The Daily Express described him as "one of the greatest racehorses of all time" and jockey Ruby Walsh said he was "simply the best chaser I've ever ridden or am likely to ride".
The Daily Telegraph said he was "the greatest chaser of the 21st century". But the paper also notes that his retirement in 2012 led to an "acrimonious fall-out between the owner and trainer". The horse was taken to Lambourn by owner Smith against the wishes of Nicholls, who wanted him to remain at his stables with head lad, Clifford Baker, who had ridden him daily for most of his career.
Instead, notes The Guardian, "Kauto Star went on to pursue a career in dressage with Laura Collett and last December took part in a demonstration on the opening night of the London International Horse Show at Olympia".
