Breeders' Cup tragedy as George Washington is put down

Last year's 2,000 Guineas winner George Washington has been put down after breaking a leg 100 yards from the finishing line of the Breeders' Cup at Monmouth Park.

The four-year-old struggled in the sloppy conditions and jockey Mick Kinane dismounted on the final bend. Racecourse veterinary staff quickly attended the colt but they found open fractures to both sesamoid bones in his off-fore.

As Curlin powered away to win the $5 million race from Hard Spun, screens were erected around George Washington but the horse could not be saved and trainer Aidan O'Brien decided he should be humanely destroyed.

On-course veterinarian and equine joint expert Dr Wayne McIlwraith said: "The decision was made very quickly. The injury was bad and Aidan O'Brien made the request for euthanisation. He was with the horse. Typically these injuries occur in the last part of the race. They are more fatigued so they have got less support to the joint and that's when the injuries normally occur."

Kinane said: "He did well to stay up. He was brave. He didn't go down. He stayed up on it. He saved me."

George Washington won six of his 14 races and earned more than £800,000 in prize money. After winning the 2,000 Guineas, he was then beaten by Araafa in the Irish equivalent on heavy ground but had revenge in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.

He was sent off to stud but fertility problems became apparent and he returned to training. He was only beaten narrowly in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot, the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown and Prix du Moulin at Longchamp but sparked excitement and interest wherever he ran.