‘A tragedy’: top five-star horse dies of a heart attack on first run of the season

William Fox-Pitt and Oratorio II at Badminton 2019

William Fox-Pitt’s five-star ride Oratorio died of a heart attack at Lincolnshire Horse Trials yesterday (19 March).

“Oratorio got the day off to a brilliant start in the dressage with a score of 23, he felt so established and relaxed, even though it was an OI [open intermediate] I was quite excited,” said a post on William’s website. “He jumped a very respectable showjumping round with one pole down.

“The cross-country turned the day into a tragedy.