Gray Pearl put down after suffering spinal chord injury

Newmarket’s on-course vets said Gray Pearl was put down after suffering an “apparent spinal chord injury” in an awful incident before the Qipco 1000 Guineas.

The second Classic of the season was delayed for nearly 30 minutes after the Charlie Hills-trained filly tried to escape beneath the starting stalls and became stuck.

Gray Pearl could not be moved for some considerable time, despite the best efforts of the stalls handlers, and was taken away in a horse ambulance.