Melbourne Cup horse put down
A horse has been euthanised after suffering an injury in the Melbourne Cup.
Irish horse The Cliffsofmoher fractured his right shoulder when running down the straight the first time yesterday.
The five-year-old was pulled up 600m into the race by English jockey Ryan Moore, eventually stopping halfway around the first corner.
Vets were soon in attendance, with tarpaulins going up around the horse to shield it from public view.
Jamie Stier, Racing Victoria’s manager of integrity services, confirmed the news.
‘‘It is with sadness that we confirm that The Cliffsofmoher had to be humanely euthanised after sustaining a fractured right shoulder,’’ Stier said. ‘‘The horse received immediate veterinary care, however it was unable to be saved due to the nature of the injury sustained.’’
The Cliffsofmoher is not the first horse to be put down at the Melbourne Cup.
Fan favourite Red Cadeaux was pulled up in the final straight of the 2015 edition of the race and it was later confirmed he suffered a break in his left foreleg. He was treated by vets for three weeks after the race, but was eventually euthanised.
Admire Rakti was a Japanese racehorse who collapsed and died from cardiac arrest at the Melbourne Cup in 2014.
British-born Araldo shattered a leg after being frightened by spectators; he was also put down in 2014.