Why they had to kill broken down Melbourne Cup horse Verema

UPDATE: A RACEHORSE with this sort of injury literally dies in front of your eyes if attempts are made to keep it alive, writes Ray Thomas.

THE horrific leg injury suffered by Verema in Tuesday's Melbourne Cup meant that veterinarians had no alternative but to have the mare humanely destroyed.

Verema had suffered a shocking break to her near-foreleg cannon bone, the injury so catastrophic that expert veterinary opinion determined she be put down immediately rather than suffer unnecessarily.

Racing Victoria's Head of Veterinary and Equine Welfare, Dr Brian Stewart, issued a statement after the Melbourne Cup which reiterated there was nothing veterinarians could do for the mare.

"It is with regret that we confirm that Verema had to be euthanized after suffering a fracture to its right foreleg during the running of the Melbourne Cup," Dr Stewart said.

"This was an unfortunate accident that happens infrequently in racing and our sympathies are extended at this time to the Aga Khan, Alain de Royer Dupre and the connections of Verema."

Verema's handler, Jonathon Fleurtot, had travelled out from France with her three weeks ago and when he she had been put down, Fleurtot stood stunned and was led to the weighing room where he was joined by Nemone Routhe, the racing manager for Verema's owner, the Aga Khan. Both sobbed uncontrollably for some minutes.

Trainer Alain de Royer Dupre went to Verema's side as she stood on the track near the 2000m with her broken front leg dangling. He returned carrying her bridle only.

Verema's jockey Christophe Lemaire had ridden Dunaden to win the Melbourne Cup two years ago and had gone from triumph to tragedy.

"When you live with these horses you become very close to them. You love them," Lemaire said.

Verema at home in her stables. Picture: Twitter

"When you take care of horses like this it's normal to cry. You come here and dream of winning the race, not of stopping half way around."

Verema broken cannon cone was so severe, there was simply no chance of recovery.

Over the decades, veterinary science has tried many different methods to attempt to save a horse's life after it suffers a similar leg break.

For example, some very valuable stallions, worth up to $100 million, have suffered similar injuries and efforts have been made to save their lives by placing the injured horse in a flotation tank for weeks, even months, to take the weight off the injured leg and assist the healing process.

However, the very physiological make-up of the thoroughbred means it has to move either by walking or running to assist breathing and for their physical well-being.

When a 500kg animal is immobilised for an extended period, invariably that horse will suffer terribly because it does not eat well, physically loses condition (fitness) and has to endure shocking pain.

A racehorse with this sort of injury is literally dying in front of your eyes if attempts are made to keep it alive.

Veterinarians are first and foremost animal lovers and they do not want for any horse to suffer in agony.

If the leg break is severe enough, then the only humane thing to do is to put that horse down.

A post mortem on Verema will be performed at the University of Melbourne Veterinary Clinic as is standard practice.

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