On Tuesday, Australia had its darkest Melbourne Cup. Two horses, the favourite Japanese horse Admire Rakti and British-born, Irish-trained Araldo, died after running the 3,200-metre race at Flemington Racecource.
Admire Rakti ran last by 25 lengths and collapsed in his stall immediately after the race, casting a shadow over the celebrations of the winning horse Protectionist. It was confirmed on Wednesday morning the 7-year-old stallion died from heart failure.
The horse race tends to stop the nation; this time, it broke the nation's heart.
Araldo hit his leg after being spooked by a spectator with a flag after completing the race. His leg was shattered in the incident. Racing Victoria's Head of Veterinary and Equine Welfare, Dr Brian Stewart, confirmed Tuesday evening Araldo had been euthanised.
After news of the deaths sent shockwaves across Australia, some began to question whether the party had gone too far. Disturbing footage emerged of the moment Admire Rakti fell in agony, bringing many Australians face-to-face with the realities of horse racing.
Warning: Distressing footage.
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Post by Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses.
The deaths of these two racehorses, many agreed, left a stain on Australia's greatest race.
Feeling so sad this morning reporting on the death of the beautiful Japanese horse Admire Rakti. #tragic— Laura Hughes (@Laura_Sensei) November 4, 2014
@newscomauHQ so sad. I didn't win anything on the Cup today & these tragedies have made me realise maybe I should give up on my annual bet— Jennifer Millard (@Jenni_Millard) November 4, 2014
These horses, all being over-worked and end up dying because the stress is too much for them.. All for our own entertainment #MelbourneCup— Hollie McCullough (@holliealexandr) November 4, 2014
Two dead horses. The most shocking day in racing surely. #MelbourneCup— Lukas Benc (@lukasbenc) November 4, 2014
Japanese fans of #AdmireRakti #アドマイヤラクティ are shocked & heartbroken #MelbourneCup pic.twitter.com/vbQ9KrPV76— Martin (@mojov999) November 4, 2014
For many, Yesterdays #MelbourneCup celebrations turned into a wake, And not because of torn up bet slips, R.I.P Admire Rakti & Araldo— mango (@ByronBayMango) November 4, 2014
Everyone who attended the #MelbourneCup or placed a bet contributed to the deaths of #AdmireRakti & #Araldo! Don't support this cruel sport!— Zucchinisaurus Ⓥ (@Zucchinisaurus) November 4, 2014
So sad at the loss of #AdmireRakti - The consensus in the office this morning - this is animal abuse. pic.twitter.com/qJK4EQGVrU— Fleur Connor (@fleur20o8) November 4, 2014
No party worth this. Shocking. Nation horrified at favourite Admire Rakti’s Melbourne Cup death http://t.co/BXCOb7TKYM— Jeanette Cotterill (@JAC_Cott) November 4, 2014
RIP Admire Rakti. Animals + competition + profit is ALWAYS going to result in animal cruelty. Enjoy your party :'( #melbournecup— Evelyn Enduatta (@FF_notes) November 4, 2014
The horse racing industry has defended itself. In a statement to Mashable on Tuesday, Dr. Brian Stewart said "the circumstances of the horse’s passing are very rare."
"The diagnosis is that the horse died of acute heart failure as a result of ventricular fibrillation," Stewart told Melbourne radio station SEN. That would be "a disorganised heart rhythm which happens very, very rarely in human athletes and in horses, and is a consequence of the athletic heart and the rapid heart rate during racing."
Chief Steward Terry Bailey rejected claims the horse was unfit before he took to the track. "These horses are looked over by vets every day and the horse was looked over on race morning by our vets and was fit as a fiddle," he said at a press conference Wednesday. "These horses get looked after better than humans."
Dr Stewart: "It could happen galloping around the paddock and does happen galloping around the paddock." #AdmireRakti— 3AW Melbourne (@3AW693) November 4, 2014
Statement from Racing Victoria Head of Veterinary Services & Equine Welfare Dr Brian Stewart regarding Araldo http://t.co/TeKMrfe5wK— Racing Victoria (@RacingInsider) November 4, 2014