
If you watched the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday afternoon, you might have noticed that in the last 400 metres, one horse began to trail significantly behind.
Then, once the race ended, and spectators celebrated the win of Vow and Declare, the horse that had dropped behind was nowhere to be seen.
Rostropovich, we now know, was pulled up by his jockey Dwayne Dunn during the final sprint to the end.
The five-year-old gelding went straight from the track at Flemington Racecourse to Werribee Vet Clinic. According to the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses, Rostropovich has been “badly injured” and is unable to bear weight. It is suspected he has suffered a cracked pelvis – an injury that sees some horses euthanised.
Racing Victoria has confirmed that Rostropovich was inspected following the race and was “found to be lame”.
Racing Victoria Stewards advise that Rostropovich was inspected by RV veterinarians following the running of the Melbourne Cup and was found to be lame. pic.twitter.com/PTN7VTHdQH
— Racing Victoria (@RacingInsider) November 5, 2019