Before the 2014 Melbourne Cup started nobody could have imagined that it would end in a heartbreaking tragedy after not one, but two horses died following the end of the famous race. Heavy favorite Admire Rakti, who finished last, collapsed and died five-minutes after the end of the run and Araldo had a similar fate a few hours later.
According to a report in The Age , Admire Rakti — the winner of the Caulfield Cup in October — died after collapsing at the stalls just five minutes after shocking punters by finishing last in the Cup. The horse was a heavy favorite and people had bet millions on it taking first place.
A few hours later the 2014 Melbourne Cup was struck with tragedy again when a second horse, Araldo, was coming back to the mounting yard after celebrating the end of the race, when a young boy waved a white flag in the horse’s face. He leaped forward, jumped the steel rail and mortally shattered a hind pastern bone.
Veterinarians at University of Melbourne Veterinary Hospital, — where the stallion was taken — worked on the animal for hours and did everything they could to save the horse’s life, but to no avail. It was put down and his death was announced at 8 p.m. Araldo’s trainer, Mike Moroney, said the incident was a tragic accident.
“They’ve run 150 Melbourne Cups and nothing like that has happened before. It’s shattering for my owners, my staff, and myself. We have just lost a great young stayer who was lightly raced and had just run seventh in the Cup. My staff are shattered. Everyone here is sticking together. We don’t blame anyone.”
Additionally, Racing Victoria head veterinarian, Brian Stewart, said nothing could be done.
“The horse received immediate veterinary care and was transported to the University of Melbourne Veterinary Hospital, however, sadly the fracture in its pastern was not repairable,” Stewart said in a statement.
“The owners made the decision to humanely euthanize Araldo in the best interests of the horse.
“Our sympathies are extended at this time to trainer Mike Moroney, his staff and the owners who are extremely saddened by the loss of their horse in such tragic circumstances.”
Admire Ratki’s death is being considered as a sudden death syndrome, which is a rare occurrence. Shocked rider Zac Purton, said he knew there was something wrong with his horse during the run at the 2014 Melbourne Cup.
“I have ridden a horse that has had a heart attack before and he didn’t feel like that, I thought I was going to win the race at halfway, but he was gone before the turn. He didn’t feel right, so I pulled him up. If I had kept riding him, it could have happened on the track.”
This is the second year in a row that the Melbourne Cup is struck by tragedy. In 2013, Verema broke a leg and had to be put down.
[Image via Neale Cousland / Shutterstock.com ]
