Tragedy has struck The Northern Echo's latest venture into horse racing.

Local Heroes, a two-year-old filly named after the paper's populargrassroots sports supplement, has died.

The unraced filly had to be put down on humane grounds after suffering afreak injury.

Local Heroes suffered a training injury which proved to be much more seriousthan first thought and vets decided the kindest course of action was for herto be put out of her misery.

The filly was thought to have a promising future as a racehorse and herdeath has devastated her trainer Michael Dods and his staff at Denton Hall,near Darlington.

A vet's original diagnosis was that Local Heroes would recover from theinjury - thought to be pulled ligaments and, subsequently, a trapped nerve.

But her condition deteriorated rapidly and it was discovered that she had,in fact, shattered the main back bone leading to her tail.

Dods said: "She was a lovely filly and everyone has been left shattered bywhat has happened. Racing is a very unpredictable business and this tragedycould not have been foreseen."

Members will be invited to Denton Hall in about a month to discuss futureplans for the partnership.

It is hoped to replace Local Heroes, who wasinsured for £5,000, with another horse and a number of options will beconsidered.

In the meantime, another of Michael Dods' horses, Patrivalor, will run inthe partnership's colours until a firm decision is taken about Local Heroes'replacement.

Members will be given regular updates on a special hotline - 07626 948833.

Do you have a story about the regional press? Ring 0116 227 3122/3121, or
e-mail pastill@nep.co.uk