URGENT: Broadway Boy Left Fans in Tears After a Horrific Fall That Left Both Jockey and Horse Needing Medical Attention – and Will Continue into Tonight’s Dramatic Run at the Grand National
In a moment that turned the thrill of victory into a collective gasp of horror, the 2025 Grand National at Aintree Racecourse was overshadowed by a devastating fall involving the promising young contender Broadway Boy. The seven-year-old gelding, ridden by experienced jockey Tom Bellamy, had dominated much of the grueling 4.25-mile steeplechase, leading the pack with a blend of power and precision that had spectators on the edge of their seats. But as the duo approached the infamous 25th fence—Valentine’s Brook on the second circuit—disaster struck in a split second that will haunt racing enthusiasts for years to come.
Eyewitnesses described the incident as “sickening,” a visceral tumble where Broadway Boy, at 66-1 odds and one of the field’s youngest runners, landed awkwardly on his front legs before his head plunged into the turf. The horse lay motionless for what felt like an eternity to the crowd of over 70,000, his sleek bay coat stark against the Merseyside soil. Bellamy, unseated in the chaos, rolled clear but landed hard on his knees, scrambling to his feet amid the pandemonium. The race, already a test of endurance with its 30 unforgiving jumps, ground to a near halt as medical teams and veterinarians swarmed the scene, delaying the finish by more than 10 minutes. ITV’s broadcast cut away abruptly, a decision that drew sharp criticism for leaving viewers in agonizing suspense while focusing on the eventual winner, the 33-1 shot Nick Rockett, piloted by Patrick Mullins to a family triumph for trainer Willie Mullins.
The emotional toll was immediate and profound. Fans, many clad in the vibrant silks of their favored runners, were reduced to tears in the stands. Social media erupted with raw outpourings of grief and concern: “My heart stopped—please let Broadway Boy be okay,” tweeted one devotee, while another lamented, “This is why we love and fear the National in equal measure.” The incident wasn’t isolated; just minutes earlier, the 13-year-old Celebre D’Allen had collapsed after the final fence, prompting another wave of on-course veterinary intervention. His rider, Micheál Nolan, faced a stewards’ inquiry and a 10-day suspension for continuing when the horse appeared spent, underscoring the razor-thin line jockeys walk between grit and judgment.
As the dust settled—or rather, the turf was carefully smoothed—initial reports brought a flicker of relief amid the dread. Bellamy, 29 and no stranger to the saddle with over 500 career wins, was stretchered off and rushed to Aintree University Hospital. Updates trickling in confirmed the extent of his misfortune: a broken wrist, sustained in the impact, which will sideline him for weeks of recovery and rehabilitation. From his hospital bed, Bellamy took to X (formerly Twitter) to reassure followers, posting a thumbs-up emoji alongside a simple message: “Bumps and bruises, but I’ll be back stronger.” His stoicism, a hallmark of the jockey fraternity, did little to quell the outpouring of support from peers like Rachael Blackmore, who had her own scare earlier in the festival when her mount Willy De Houelle suffered a fatal fall on opening day.
Broadway Boy’s plight, however, gripped the nation most fiercely. Trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies at his Gloucestershire yard, the horse had arrived at Aintree as a dark horse with a glittering pedigree—victor of the From The Horse’s Mouth Podcast Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham just months prior. Vets worked tirelessly on the track, stabilizing the animal before he was coaxed to his feet and walked gingerly onto a horse ambulance. Transported to the racecourse stables, Broadway Boy underwent overnight monitoring, his handlers by his side through the long hours. By Sunday morning, a cautiously optimistic update emerged from the Twiston-Davies camp. Sam Twiston-Davies, Nigel’s son and a fellow jockey, shared: “Stiff and sore, but all being well, traveling home this morning.” Willy Twiston-Davies added, “Thanks to all the vets at Aintree—Broadway Boy is getting loaded onto the horse ambulance and coming home.” No fractures, no catastrophic damage—just the aches of a warrior tested beyond limits.
Yet, as the sun rose over Aintree on April 6, the story refused to fade into yesterday’s headlines. The Grand National’s dramatic run extends into tonight, with the festival’s marquee events drawing record crowds despite the shadows cast by Saturday’s chaos. Side by side with Broadway Boy’s recovery, another horse, Celebre D’Allen, remains under vigilant care, his treatment a poignant reminder of the event’s unyielding demands. The British Horseracing Authority emphasized their “first-class facilities” in a statement, noting that both animals received “immediate and extensive treatment,” with assessments set to continue through the evening hours.
The fallout has ignited fiercer debate than ever on the sport’s soul. Animal rights groups, long vocal critics of jumps racing’s inherent risks, seized the moment to lambast the industry. Animal Aid’s campaign manager, Nina Copleston-Hawkens, decried the “empty rhetoric” on welfare, pointing to ITV’s broadcast choices as emblematic of a deeper denial: “Disgusted and appalled that Broadway Boy suffered such a horrific fall, and the industry had the gall to gloss over it.” Protests simmered outside the gates, banners waving calls for reform—from smaller fields (already reduced to 34 this year) to softer fences and mandatory pull-up protocols. Defenders, including the Jockey Club, countered with data: no fatalities in the National proper last year, a testament to evolving safeguards. But with one horse lost earlier in the week and two more clinging to recovery, the conversation feels more urgent than celebratory.
As tonight’s races unfold under the floodlights, the Aintree faithful will carry Broadway Boy’s spirit with them—a symbol of resilience in a sport where glory and heartbreak are inseparable. Bellamy’s wrist will heal, the horse’s soreness will fade, but the tears shed on that fateful Saturday? They’ll fuel a reckoning, ensuring the Grand National’s legacy endures not just as a spectacle, but as a catalyst for change. In the end, it’s the unspoken bond between rider, mount, and fan that makes this the world’s greatest steeplechase—and the one that breaks our hearts most profoundly.
