PART-OWNER Graham Thorner is still coming to terms with the extra-ordinary events which saw his pride and joy, Marching Song, killed at Newbury on Saturday.

Thorner, 62, who runs a livery stables at Letcombe Regis, near Wantage, watched in horror as the five-year-old gelding fell to the ground and died in the parade ring just before he was about to be mounted by jockey Nick Scholfield.

Fenix Two suffered the same cruel fate, with connections of the stricken horses believing an electric shock emanating from underneath the paddock to be the cause.

Racing was subsequently abandoned after one race due to health and saefty concerns.

Former champion jockey Thorner, who won the 1972 Grand National on Well To Do, bought Marching Song at Newmarket 18 months ago.

And yesterday he said: “It was horrendous. I was on the ground with him and the lad is saying I am getting a shock.

“If the jockey had been legged up he could have been dead.

“I am meant to be tough, but I broke down because I bought this horse and did all the roadwork with him and sold the shares to the other owners.

“It was personal to the whole family. He was a good horse. He had the world at his feet.

“He had great potential and had never run a bad race.”

Marching Song was trained at Broad Hinton, near Swindon, by Andy Turnell, who sent out Maori Venture to win the 1987 Grand National while he was based at East Hendred, near Wantage.

And Thorner added: “I would not want any horse to go through what he went through.

“I just hope they will find out what it was and I will get some closure.

“I still can’t accept it. It was crazy. No-one has ever seen anything like it. It was total confusion. He was such a nice person.”

Thorner had a quarter share in Marching Song, who was due to run in the claret and blue colours made famous by Best Mate after he sold a share to the triple Gold Cup winner’s owner, Jim Lewis.

“He said he would buy a share for his new wife (Jennifer), who is distraught,” added Thorner.

Marching Song’s two other owners are Robert Garner and Clive Buckle.

And Garner added: “I am not as hurt as Graham. For Graham it is his life and soul, and two years of effort are in there and two years of effort for Andy.”

It was announced yesterday a section of electrical cable had been removed from the course for further examination.