With the countdown to the Cheltenham Festival well and truly on, this week, one of the meeting’s greatest stars hit the news for a rather surprising reason. Retired in 2016, three-time Cheltenham Festival winner Sprinter Sacre was the subject of a GoFundMe page set up to cover his veterinary bills. But had a horse who brought such joy to fans – and £1.13 million in prize money for connections – really fallen on such hard times?
Happily, initial concerns and a social media outcry proved unfounded. Expressing surprise at the news, the superstar’s former trainer, Nicky Henderson, confirmed that he had already agreed to foot the bill before the GoFundMe page surfaced.
£5,000 Required Following Accident
The GoFundMe page titled “Sprinter Sacre: Veterinary Fees Appeal” appeared on Tuesday, 27th January. Set up by Vicki Roberts, who has cared for and helped retrain Sprinter Sacre since his retirement, the page aimed to secure £5,000 in funding to treat an unspecified injury.
Outlining his condition, the plea read:
“Despite immediate care and multiple veterinary interventions, his condition has not improved as hoped. His veterinary team have advised that he now requires urgent referral for advanced diagnostics and treatment to properly assess the extent of his injuries and give him the best possible chance of recovery.”
This year may represent the tenth anniversary of Sprinter Sacre’s retirement, but the sensational chaser certainly hasn’t been forgotten. Not long after the GoFundMe page went live, donations had reached £3,822.
All News to Nicky
When news of the GoFundMe page broke, many racing fans expressed their shock and disappointment on social media. It soon became clear that Nicky Henderson was as surprised as anyone.
Reacting to the fundraising effort, the Seven Barrows handler stated:
“I had no idea this was going to happen. I’d already arranged with my vets to send me the bill, and it has been covered. It was sorted immediately.”
Donations Refunded
Following Henderson’s statement, Vicki Roberts issued her own update on Wednesday, 28th January, thanking Henderson;
“We’re extremely grateful Nicky has stepped up in this moment, and this reflects the care, responsibility and commitment he has always shown towards Sprinter, both during his racing career and in retirement.”
Roberts also confirmed that the GoFundMe effort would be closed and all donations refunded.
All’s Well That Ends Well
The circumstances that led to the unnecessary GoFundMe page remain unclear, but may be a result of simple miscommunication.
Thankfully, Sprinter Sacre’s condition is not thought to be serious. Shedding a little light on the 20-year-old horse’s injury, Henderson told the Press Association:
“Sprinter Sacre is fine, it’s a minor bang on the inside of a splint bone, and they are just going to remove a little chip. It’s very simple, and he will be fine; everyone will be fine.”
Racing’s Greatest Comeback Story
Many horses were retired in 2016. Not all are remembered as vividly as Sprinter Sacre. So just what made this two-mile star so great?
For those unfamiliar with the story, the tale of Sprinter Sacre features sparkling brilliance, a health-related decline, and concludes with one of the greatest comebacks in the history of the Cheltenham Festival.
The Rise
A talented hurdler, Sprinter Sacre showed enough ability to finish third in the 2011 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. However, it was only when sent over a fence that he revealed the full extent of his ability. Kicking off with a 24-length romp in a novice event at Doncaster, Sprinter Sacre embarked on a 10-race winning streak. Quickly proving to be in a different league to the competition, highlights included a seven-length verdict over Cue Card in the 2012 Arkle Chase and an incredible 19-length success in the 2013 Queen Mother Champion Chase.
🤌 Sprinter Sacre’s 2013 Champion Chase win in full
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The Fall
Seemingly unbeatable headed into the 2013/14 campaign, Sprinter Sacre looked set to sweep all before him. And then came the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton. Sent off at odds of 2/9, it soon became clear that something was amiss. Losing ground before halfway, he was ultimately pulled up amidst concerns for his well-being. A post-race investigation revealed a heart problem that would keep Sprinter Sacre off the track for 386 days.
Hopes were high when the horse returned to the track in 2015. However, three defeats in as many outings, including a pulled-up effort in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, led many to question whether we would ever see the legend at his best again.
A Comeback for the Ages
Luckily for fans, few sports deliver a fairytale ending like horse racing. Returning for the 2015/16 season, Sprinter Sacre’s quest to reclaim his Champion Chase crown – three years after his first – was labelled the impossible dream.
That dream looked marginally more likely following wins in the Shloer Chase and Desert Orchid Chase, before becoming reality on a truly spine-tingling afternoon at the Cheltenham Festival. Expected to play second fiddle to odds-on favourite Un De Sceaux, Sprinter Sacre swaggered into contention on the home turn, soared over the final two fences and roared to a three-and-a-half-length success. Commentators’ voices cracked under the pressure, tears flowed in the stands, and 10 years on, fans and Nicky Henderson still hold Sprinter Sacre close to their hearts.