RACEGOERS broke down in tears on what should have been one of the best days of the year - after a tragic incident just yards from the finish post.
This dramatic photo showed one punter distraught after a three-year-old filly sadly collapsed and died in one of the big races on Derby day.
The Henry Candy-trained Tears Of A Clown was sent off 20-1 under Trevor Whelan for the rapid five-furlong sprint known as the '3yo Dash'.
She was hampered jumping out of the gates and weakened noticeably two furlongs out before being pulled up inside the final furlong.
Tragically she collapsed 50 yards from the post after suffering what appeared to be a haemorrhage, according to the Telegraph.
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Whelan was immediately beside the horse after she went down and was quickly joined by the on-course veterinary staff.
Treatment to save her began right away and the screens went up but it emerged the horse had sadly died 'almost instantly'.
The loss - described as 'heartbreaking' by one viewer - put a dampener on the racecourse's big day and the Derby won by equine superstar City Of Troy.
A spokesperson for Epsom Downs Racecourse said: "Tears of A Clown was immediately attended by expert veterinary professionals after the fourth race but sadly passed away.
"Our heartfelt condolences are with all her connections."
The BHA state on their website that 'as with all elite sports and all activities involving horses, there is an element of risk'.
The message adds: "It is the responsibility of the BHA and everyone involved in the sport to ensure that we do everything possible to minimise that risk and to ensure that no injury or fatality occurs which could reasonably have been prevented.
"As a consequence of British racing’s investment in safety, welfare and health, the number of horses that have died on racecourses has decreased by 1/3 in the last 20 years, to 0.20 per cent of runners."
Every single horse running over the two-day Derby bonanza had to pass a soundness check by BHA veterinary officers prior to racing.
And that monitoring continues in the paddock and right the way up until they enter the stalls at the start.
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