In what is known as the Festival’s most prestigious race, two-time winner Galopin Des Champs was stopped from winning a third consecutive Gold Cup by Inothewayurthinkin.
What a name, by the way.
The horse and his rider took home the Gold Cup after winning by six lengths against the crowd-favourite, as many viewers watched on with their extortionately priced pints.
The duo made sports history, and remained in the spotlight in social media after the race, though not for the shock result, but something much more brutal.
This viral moment did the rounds online, as the horse could be seen being tended to by a vet after the momentous victory.
In horrifying footage of the incident which was posted on X, a vet could be seeing rushing to the winning horse to tend to one of the hind legs, entering the danger zone when it comes to standing around the animal.
Shockingly, Inothewayurthinkin kicked out at the vet, sending her flying as she was caught completely off guard, with viewers seeing the health professional fly out of frame on TV.
Social media users shared what they thought of the incident, as one claimed: “A vet should know better than doing something this stupid. The horse needed to be unsaddled & cooled off before checking a cut on his back leg.”
Another wrote: “Sore leg and didn’t want her touching it. The woman is fine after going flying from that kick.”
Others pointed out that the horse had been bleeding around the pastern area on the leg.
A third pointed out: “Can’t believe an experienced vet tried to lift a horses back leg when it’s literally just finished racing.”
The Gold Cup winner lashed out at the vet (Michael Steele/Getty Images)
People may have been so attentive to the situation following the death of fellow Gold Cup competitor Corbetts Cross, who died after experiencing a heavy fall on Friday afternoon.
The racehorse, aged eight, was ridden by Jockey Jack Kennedy, who hailed from Ireland.
Corbetts Cross was in the chasing pack before the final moments of the race, but sustained fatal injuries after falling while leaping over a fence.
While vets attended to the wounded animal, it would then be taken away in a horse ambulance, with sad news to follow.
Cheltenham released an official statement, saying: “In our fifth race of the day, Corbetts Cross was immediately attended to by our veterinary professionals, but sadly sustained a fatal injury. Our heartfelt condolences are with his connections.”
