Steeplechase winner dies after race

[P.V.]

Arcadius collapsed and died as he was being cooled down after winning the $150,000 Iroquois Steeplechase at Percy Warner Park on Saturday.

The 8-year-old gelding collapsed at a station placed just beyond the finish line of the 3-mile race.

Very sad ending to a great race today! I live pretty close to the park.

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[samoas]

Reminds me of the year (2005) Eight Belles ran in the Kentucky Derby. What a tragic end.

 

[P.V.]

Update

Reminds me of the year (2005) Eight Belles ran in the Kentucky Derby. What a tragic end.

The Loss of Our Champion


The Iroquois Steeplechase community mourns today the loss of our 2012 champion, Arcadius, a great horse whose life was claimed yesterday by an aneurysm.

Our grief is tempered by knowing that Arcadius’ death was unrelated to his participation in yesterday’s 71st running of the Calvin Houghland Iroquois. A necropsy by the state of Tennessee showed that the aneurysm that felled Arcadius, an 8-year-old thoroughbred owned by Hudson River Farms, was not connected to his outstanding performance in the race. Veterinarians said that the type of aneurysm that Arcadius suffered could have happened at any time.

This finding of the necropsy is line with the events surrounding Arcadius’ passing. After winning the Iroquois, he easily trotted back to the Winner’s Circle, stopped for a victory photo with his jockey, and was then calmly walked to the cool down area with no signs of duress. While being cooled down, a service routinely provided to steeplechase horses after a race to assure that they do not overheat, he suffered the aneurysm.

Like any top flight athlete, Arcadius was in top physical condition. Indeed, proof of his strength and stamina was decisively on display in his winning performance. Also like all great athletes, both animal and human, Arcadius enjoyed competing, as was obvious to everyone who worked with him. He simply loved to run.

 

[conker]

That's really sad. We lost Syncronized, this years Gold Cup winner, after his owners decided to run him in the very dangerous Grand National. We will never know if he could have defended his title, such a shame

 

[Luckylizzy]

At least he went out win a bang. He will be remembered for his win! It's still sad though.

 

[samoas]

That's really sad. We lost Syncronized, this years Gold Cup winner, after his owners decided to run him in the very dangerous Grand National. We will never know if he could have defended his title, such a shame

I just watched the Grand National race this year for the first time ever. I work with a gent from England. That's one helluva challenge! Seemed to go on forever.