Tragic Loss for Juddmonte as Promising Mare Laurel Suffers Fatal Heart Attack
In a devastating blow to the horse racing world, owner-breeders Juddmonte have announced the passing of their exciting mare Laurel due to a fatal heart attack. The five-year-old daughter of Kingman, who had shown tremendous potential, suffered the tragic incident while being prepared for a return to Group One action in France.
Laurel, a promising runner-up in the 2022 Sun Chariot, made a successful comeback last season, winning her first two career starts before a disappointing outing in the Lockinge at Newbury. However, the Gosden-trained mare bounced back with an impressive runner-up finish behind stablemate Running Lion in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, leaving connections hopeful for her future.
“She was a great filly and I think her better days were still to come as John was always adamant that she was a Group One filly,” said Juddmonte’s European racing manager Barry Mahon. “Last year she obviously missed most of the season with an injury and she had such a promising comeback run at Ascot, we were really excited.”
Sadly, Laurel’s promising career was cut short when she suffered a heart attack on the gallops while being prepared for the Prix Jean Romanet in France. “She was due to head to France for the Prix Jean Romanet and unfortunately she had a heart attack and dropped dead on the gallop, which was very sad,” Mahon added.
The tragic loss of Laurel is a devastating blow to the Juddmonte team, who had high hopes for the talented mare’s future. Her sudden and untimely passing serves as a poignant reminder of the inherent risks involved in the sport of horse racing, even for the most promising of racehorses.
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