24 March 2026
It is a very somber day for the racing world. Nicky Henderson has tragically announced today, March 24, 2026, that his star hurdler Sir Gino has been put down.
The six-year-old had been fighting a losing battle with severe, deep-seated infections. While his fractured pelvis, sustained during the Unibet Hurdle at Cheltenham in January, was reportedly healing well, the infection had spread too far to be overcome.
The Final Update
In a statement released this afternoon, Henderson expressed the heartbreak felt at Seven Barrows:
“We have very sadly lost the battle to overcome Sir Gino’s ailment and he has had to be put to sleep at the veterinary hospital this morning. He was not only brilliant but one of the nicest, kindest horses you could ever wish to see.”
Career Highlights
Sir Gino leaves behind a nearly flawless legacy as one of the most exciting talents in recent years:
• Unbeaten Record: He won all 7 of his career starts prior to his final injury.
• Grade 1 Success: A three-time Grade 1 winner over hurdles.
• Versatility: He famously made a spectacular winning debut over fences in a Grade 2 Chase at Kempton in late 2024 before returning to hurdles.
• Christmas Star: His final completed race was a dominant victory in the 2025 Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, where he defeated the reigning champion, Golden Ace.
Tributes from the Team
Nico de Boinville (Regular Jockey):
The rider, who was in the saddle for all of Sir Gino’s major wins, expressed his devastation, noting the horse’s immense natural talent:
“He was a freak of nature. To have the engine he had and the jumping ability to match was rare. But more than that, he was a gentleman. We thought we had him back to his best this season, and for it to end like this is just heartbreaking for everyone at Seven Barrows.”
Summary of the Setback
The trouble began on January 24, 2026, during the Unibet Hurdle at Cheltenham’s Trials Day. After jumping awkwardly, he was pulled up by Nico de Boinville and diagnosed with a fractured pelvis. Although the initial prognosis for the bone injury was guarded but hopeful, the secondary internal infections ultimately proved fatal.
This is a devastating blow for his owners, Joe and Marie Donnelly, and the entire Henderson team, who had already spent much of 2025 nursing him back to health from a previous illness.
Community Reactions
The wider racing world has also paid tribute to the horse who was the ante-post favorite for the 2026 Champion Hurdle:
• Dan Skelton (Trainer of The New Lion): Skelton, whose horse won the race where Sir Gino was injured, previously noted that Sir Gino “could be the best horse in training” and shared his condolences with the Seven Barrows team for the “hell” they went through to get him back to the track.
• The Jockey Club: Released a statement acknowledging the “immense talent” lost to the sport and praising the veterinary teams at Three Counties for their exhaustive efforts over the last two months.
• Racing Fans: Social media has been flooded with clips of his dominant win over Golden Ace in the 2025 Christmas Hurdle, with many calling it one of the most clinical performances seen at Kempton in years.
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