‘I was madly in love with him’ says devastated trainer Sheila Lewis after death of beloved grey horse Volcano

9 months ago 69

TRAINER Sheila Lewis has spoken of her devastation at losing her beloved racehorse Volcano – saying ‘I fell madly in love with him’.

Welsh trainer Lewis posted an emotional statement on X after the grey suffered a fatal injury at Hereford on Sunday.

Didn’t just lose a horse, lost a great friend he was the king of the yard, when you have a small amount of horses you fall madly in love with them (rightly or wrongly) he went above and beyond and over achieved because he was loved and adored rip my one and only volcano pic.twitter.com/ln8Z8rCEOL

— Sheila (@thebeautymill) February 26, 2024

The 9-1 chance fell at the second fence in a 3m1f veterans’ chase under jockey Finn Lambert and sadly could not be saved.

Volcano had prize money earnings of more than £70,000 in his 48-race career and his most recent win came at Warwick just under 12 months ago.

Lewis – who ran a beauty salon alongside her training business – posted a photo of herself alongside Volcano out in the field and wrote: “Didn’t just lose a horse, lost a great friend.

“He was king of the yard.

“When you have a small amount of horses you fall madly in love with them.

“Rightly or wrongly, he went above and beyond and overachieved because he was loved and adored.

“RIP my one and only Volcano.”

Top jockey Harry Skelton was among those passing on their condolences to Lewis.

He wrote ‘so sorry for you and your team’ while Lewis’ fellow trainer Emma Lavelle, who has Paisley Park in her yard, added: “Sending you lots of love and hugs.”

One racing follower wrote: “Heartbroken to read this Sheila. Thoughts with you and all the staff.”

Lewis is best known for stable star Straw Fan Jack.

Another grey, his biggest win came at Cheltenham in October 2022 when he claimed a novice chase worth £13,000.