TWO top racehorses have tragically died after a savage attack from a ‘huge swarm of bees’.
Sanus Per Aquam, ten, and 15-year-old Air Support, who were both standing as stallions, were said to have suffered fatal injuries following the assault at their stables.
Sanus Per Aquam was one of two horses to have died in the brutal assault from ‘thousands’ of beesSportsfile – Subscription
The duo were said to have been targeted by the insects while out grazing at Kunigal Stud Farm in India last Thursday.
Vets were called out to rescue the horses but neither could be saved, according to a local newspaper.
Trained by Irish legend Jim Bolger, Sanus Per Aquam was a Group 3 winner who made more than £120,000 on the racecourse.
Air Support, who won a Group 2 race worth £215,000 in July 2011, earned more than £580,000 in 16 races.
And he was fifth in the 2012 Canadian International Stakes, a race won by Frankie Dettori on Joshua Tree.
United Racing and Bloodstock Breeders acquired the horses after they retired from racing.
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Farm manager Dr Dinesh NM said ‘thousands’ of bees swarmed the innocent horses.
He said: “I was alerted at 1.52pm about the incident. Due to the attack, they became wild, jumped and moved uncontrollably.
“The staff and vets struggled to control them.
“We could not go near them as the bees were hovering around them.
“Finally they collapsed as the toxin, from the bee bites, increased in their bodies.”
He added that there were no bee hives on the 480-acred stud farm, but suspected someone disturbed them from their nearby home.
Punters who remembered the horses were quick to express their sadness at the losses.
One commented: “An awful event. Condolences to all connections.”
Another Twitter post read: “Those poor horses, this is very sad.”
While a fellow racing fan wrote: “Goodness how awful, I’m so very sorry.”