Sprinter Sacre to undergo treatment for ‘minor’ injury

Nicky Henderson has allayed any concerns about the health of Sprinter Sacre, confirming the dual Champion Chase hero is currently undergoing treatment for a “minor bang”.

A GoFundMe page was set up by Vicki Roberts, who has taken care of Caroline Mould’s chasing star in retirement, asking for contributions towards veterinary fees after the now 20-year-old suffered an accident in the field.

Over £3,500 was raised by racing supporters during the few hours the page was live, but the master of Seven Barrows confirmed he will be covering the cost of any treatment Sprinter Sacre requires, while explaining one of his finest alumni will make a full recovery.

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.

“He’s gone down to our own vets and they are going to have a look at it and send me the bill. They are our vets and at the end of the month they will put it on my bill.

“The bill has been paid but I’ve suggested to Vicki that the money that has been collected could be donated to Racing Welfare.”

Sprinter Sacre amassed over £1.1million in prize-money during a 24-race career that yielded 18 victories and included performances which made him one of the most popular racehorses of the 21st century.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of his famous second success in the Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, with Sprinter Sacre recovering from a heart issue to triumph as a 10-year-old under current Henderson number one Nico de Boinville, three years after first landing the two-mile championship.

The original posting of the fundraising page sparked some outcry on social media but in an update on Wednesday morning, a statement expressed gratitude to Henderson for covering the treatment costs and confirmed all donations would now be returned.

It read: “We would like to sincerely thank everyone who has shown concern, kindness and support for Sprinter Sacre over the past few days. The volume of messages from around the world has been a powerful reminder of the extraordinary place he holds in the hearts of racing fans.

“Following discussions with the veterinary team, Nicky Henderson has today confirmed that he has covered the costs of Sprinter Sacre’s veterinary investigation and treatment at the hospital. We are extremely grateful that 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.

“As a result, the GoFundMe page will now be closed and all donations will be refunded in full as soon as possible, as costs have now been met.”