Irish horse The Cliffsofmoher has suffered a harrowing injury during the running of the 2018 Melbourne Cup.
The Aiden O’Brien-trained horse went down within the first 600m of Race 7 and spent a long period of time in the hands of trainers with the ominous tarps up.
Tarps still up on the track. Trainers still working on Cliffsofmoher. Shocking injury, feel for those involved. #MelbourneCup pic.twitter.com/Yu6q5bBuSE
— Jase Kemp (@jasetaylorkemp) 6 November 2018
The horse’s death will no doubt spark more outcry from animal rights activists after a string of deaths at the Melbourne Cup over the past five years.
Verema, Admire Rakti, Araldo, Red Cadeaux, Regal Monarch and all the horses who have died on Australian racing tracks, or have been killed when their ‘careers’ are over.
We remember you. ♥️🐴#LoveHorsesNotRacing #NuptotheCup #MelbourneCup #HorseRacingKills pic.twitter.com/es9gLKKz7r
— Animals Australia (@AnimalsAus) 5 November 2018
In 2017, Regal Monarch died in Race 4 while Red Cadeaux was put down in 2015.
The year before, race favourite Admire Ratki died from a heart attack and Araldo broke a leg and was euthanised in the same race.
119 horses died on Australian tracks between August 2017 and July 2018, according to PETA.
(Source: This article was originally published on The Roar)