McKelvey
Encyclopedia
McKelvey was a British-trained thoroughbred
racehorse, ridden by Tom O'Brien
and trained by Peter Bowen.
. On 5 April 2008 during the 2008 Grand National
he dislodged his rider at the twentieth fence, ran loose, jumping the next fence he stumbled on landing which made him fall under the barrier. As he got up, still under the barrier, he fractured his back and was euthanized on field.
, and his death gave rise to much debate about the safety of the Grand National Meeting. However, it is widely accepted that his death was a tragic accident and came about through no fault of any connected to him or the course. It was also unrelated to the tendon injury he sustained when finishing runner up to Silver Birch
in the same race the year before.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse, ridden by Tom O'Brien
Tom O'Brien
Thomas O’Brien, Tom O’Brien, or Tommy O'Brien may refer to:*Thomas D. O'Brien, co-founder of William Mitchell College of Law*Thomas J. O'Brien , Illinois politician...
and trained by Peter Bowen.
Racing career
McKelvey won the 2006 Summer National and came second in the 2007 Grand National2007 Grand National
The 2007 Grand National was the 160th official annual running of the world-famous Grand National steeplechase which took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 14 April 2007 and attracted the maximum permitted field of forty competitors for a total prize money of £700,000...
. On 5 April 2008 during the 2008 Grand National
2008 Grand National
The 2008 Grand National was the 161st official annual running of the world-famous Grand National steeplechase which took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 5 April 2008 and attracted the maximum allowed field of 40 competitors, for total prize money of £450,640.Joint-favourite...
he dislodged his rider at the twentieth fence, ran loose, jumping the next fence he stumbled on landing which made him fall under the barrier. As he got up, still under the barrier, he fractured his back and was euthanized on field.
Death
McKelvey had been featured before the race on the BBC's The One ShowThe One Show
The One Show is a topical magazine-style daily television programme broadcast live on BBC One and BBC One HD, hosted by Alex Jones and Matt Baker. Chris Evans joins Jones to present the programme on Friday...
, and his death gave rise to much debate about the safety of the Grand National Meeting. However, it is widely accepted that his death was a tragic accident and came about through no fault of any connected to him or the course. It was also unrelated to the tendon injury he sustained when finishing runner up to Silver Birch
Silver Birch (horse)
Silver Birch is an Irish-trained thoroughbred racehorse, owned by Brian Walsh of County Kildare. Ridden by Robbie Power and trained by 29 year-old Gordon Elliott, Silver Birch was the winner of the 2007 John Smith's Grand National at Aintree Racecourse, run on Saturday 14 April 2007...
in the same race the year before.