Melbourne Cup 2019: Horse injured during race that stops the nation

There was concern for Rostropovich as the horse pulled up lame and ran last in the Melbourne Cup but there’s positive news for the gelding.

3 min read

November 6, 2019 - 10:28AM

Horse racing backlash: the race that divides the nation

Rostropovich, the horse that finished last in this year’s Melbourne Cup, is in a stable condition after being taken to an equine clinic with a stress fracture in its pelvis.

Rostropovich’s jockey Dwayne Dunn stopped pushing the five-year-old during the race when he realised something wasn’t right.

“He hasn’t pulled up too well. He’s obviously sustained an injury somewhere in the run,” Dunn said.

One of Rostropovich’s trainers, David Hayes, added: “He couldn’t weight bear. But I think with a lot of painkillers he’s relieved. It’s a sad story anyway.”

Racing Victoria (RV) reportedly issued an updated statement on the horse’s wellbeing on Wednesday morning after he was assessed by vets.

“The horse is doing well. He remains in a stable condition on box rest, and the vets are comfortable with his progress,” RV said, according to a tweet by Racing Post.

Channel 7 reporter Tom Chadwick said “Rostropovich will make a full recovery”

Rostropovich’s race was ruined but a full recovery is on the cards.

On Tuesday RV said: “Racing Victoria advises that an assessment of Rostropovich at the University of Melbourne Equine Centre has determined that the horse has sustained a stress fracture in its pelvis.

“Rostropovich was inspected by RV veterinarians on course after finishing the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington Racecourse today and was found to be lame.

“After receiving initial veterinary care, the horse was transported to the University of Melbourne Equine Centre for further assessment.

“The David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig-trained gelding is in a stable condition, comfortable and receiving the best veterinary care.

“Rostropovich will be confined to box rest for the near future and will be closely monitored over the coming days by veterinary staff.”

Co-trainer Ben Hayes said he was hopeful Rostropovich would recover fully with rest.

“Time will tell. Rest is all you can do with an injury like this,” Hayes said. “It’s a very common injury, and we just have to hope for the best. But he’ll get the best care.”

Co-trainers David (left) and Ben Hayes are hopeful Rostropovich will make a full recovery.

PETA SLAMS NATIONAL ‘DISGRACE’

Animal welfare group PETA lashed out after the race, saying Rostropovich’s injury is indicative of the cruelty horses suffer in the sport.

“Rostropovich is the latest in a long line of horses who have been seriously injured or killed during the disgrace that stops the nation — the Melbourne Cup,” PETA’s statement read.

“While media coverage focuses on silly hats, the reality of the abusive racing industry is that horses are made to run to the detriment of their health. These 500-kilogram animals — supported on ankles as small as those of humans — are pushed past their limits, forced to race at breakneck speeds while being whipped.

“In June, PETA revealed that some 3000 Australian horses and their offspring had been cast off by the racing industry and killed for meat in South Korea. How many more horses have to suffer or die before we call time on this disgraceful demonstration of national senselessness?”

NSW Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqui also released a statement, saying: “This is just so tragically predictable. Year after year we see the needless suffering of horses, yet nothing changes. I really hope Rostropovich recovers fully.”

The Animal Justice Party of NSW said in a tweet it heard Rostropovich had been “badly injured” while the RSPCA also reacted to the news shortly after the race was run.

We've been updated that Rostropovich has been badly injured and been rushed to Werribee possibly with a broken pelvis.
These are the kinds of horrific injuries horses sustain from being forced to run in the cruel #MelbourneCup.
Hoping he can be saved.
— Animal Justice Party NSW (@AJPNSW) November 5, 2019

To our supporters and followers, we're also hearing reports that Rostropovich suffered a serious pelvis injury before pulling up in the #MelbourneCup2019. Very sorry to hear this news, we hope for the best and are keenly awaiting news of his condition. #horseracing
— RSPCA Australia (@RSPCA) November 5, 2019

Hearing reports that Rostropovich has been badly injured in the Melbourne Cup. I really hope he is okay. When animals and gambling mix, animals always suffer #NupToTheCup #MelbourneCup2019
— Mehreen Faruqi (@MehreenFaruqi) November 5, 2019

TALE OF TRAGEDY

There have been several deaths in the past five years of the glamour race.

In 2014, Admire Rakti, who collapsed and died in his stall after the race, and Araldo, who broke his leg and was euthanised, were casualties.

The following year fan favourite Red Cadeaux shattered a leg and was put down on the track.

In 2017, Regal Monarch died after a sickening fall in another race at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day, before The Cliffsofmoher’s fall early in last year’s race.

Trainer and commentator Richard Freedman this week pointed to the foreign takeover of the event as a possible cause of the spike.

“Of the last six horses that have come to a catastrophic injury in a Melbourne Cup, all six of them were imported horses,” Freedman said on Nine’s Sports Sunday. “The last Australian horse to die as a result of the Melbourne Cup was in 1979.”

Racing Victoria assesses each international horse and scratched last year’s runner-up Marmelo and British horse Ispolini from this year’s race after inspections by its veterinarians.