Henderson heartbreak after death of stable star Shishkin

said he and his team were devastated on Sunday night after the death of “absolute superstar” Shishkin.

The ten-year-old gelding, a six-time Grade One winner, got cast in his box at Seven Barrows and fractured his hind leg.

Henderson revealed the heartbreaking news via a post on X (formerly Twitter) just before 10pm. Within an hour, his message had been viewed more than 860,000 times and attracted more than 700 comments relaying sympathy and sadness. 

The volume of responses reflected the love and admiration that racing fans had for a tremendously gifted horse who also seemed to have developed a penchant for the unusual, such as refusing to race on his return last season before tripping himself up on his next start.

Shishkin had been scheduled to run against Galopin Des Champs in the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup on Wednesday. 

Henderson said: “Tragically we have lost Shishkin this evening after he got cast in his stable and fractured his hind leg.

“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,' Henderson said.

“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."

Shishkin won 14 of his 21 races, including Cheltenham Festival victories in an eventful 2020 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and the following season’s Arkle. He was ridden by Nico De Boinville in all his races under Rules.

Among his other Grade One triumphs was a pulsating defeat of Energumene in the 2022 Clarence House Chase at Ascot. Few would dispute it was one of the greatest steeplechase races this century.

Henderson said: “The Supreme Novices’ 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.”

This season had been a rollercoaster ride of emotions for his connections, with Shishkin refusing to start at Ascot before parting company with De Boinville two out in the King George when leading. Shishkin jumped the fence fine but then seemed to trip himself up.

He secured what was to be his final success when winning the Denman Chase at Newbury in February, before finishing fourth on his last outing in the Aintree Bowl.

Horses can become cast when they lay down and are unable to get up. It can occur for various reasons, including innocently rolling over and trapping their legs against a wall. In this particular incident, the consequences were tragically catastrophic.

It has been a challenging time for Henderson, with his unbeaten Champion Hurdle winner Constitution Hill having a spell in an equine hospital last month after a colic scare.

His horses had been under a cloud but in recent weeks the yard's form has revived. Only on Saturday, the trainer enjoyed a big-race double via Jonbon and Fantastic Lady.