2 horses die before race; electrocution suspected
February 12, 2011NEWBURY, England (AP) - Two horses have collapsed and died under mysterious circumstances before a race at Newbury Racecourse, with electrocution suspected as the cause.
The British Horseracing Authority will conduct an investigation.
An owner of one of the horses says Saturday that several handlers told him they were ``getting a shock off the horse.'' Graham Thorner, a co-owner of Marching Song, adds that his horse seemed fine, but as he began helping the rider to climb aboard the horse ``just went straight down.''
The trainer of Marching Songs says ``it looks like they've been electrocuted.''
Fenix Two was the other horse who died.
Horses wear metal shoes. A racing official says while the investigation is looking into ``suspicions that an electrical fault was the cause,'' other possible causes are not being ruled out.