Dark Target (AUS)

Brown gelding 2004 - 24/10/09, by Danetime (IRE) ex Accuracy
Trainer: Chris Stelmach (Bunbury)
Owners: Mr JT Stelmach, Mr BW O'byrne, Mr DR Ward, Mrs CG Ward, Mr WD Kendall
19 8-4-3 $396,950 Stakes AU
Prince of Wales Stakes, Ascot (G3)
Article
Promising galloper Dark Target (AUS) was short priced favorite, however after leading most of the way he faded to finish last, and collapsed and died post race from a suspected heart attack, 24th of October, 2009.

Geeorb (AUS)

Bay gelding 2000 - 25/7/2009, by Encosta De Lago ex Our Saratoga (NZ)
Trainer: Ciaron Maher at WARNAMBOOL
Owners: GS Baker, JB Baker
34 9-1-3 $253,538 Stakes AU
Hiskens Steeplechase ~ 4050m
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Winner of numerous jumps races such as The Crisp and the St Stevens, talented jumper Geeorb (NZ) sadly fell at the second last jump in the Hiskens and suffered a fractiured near foreleg, he was euthanased on track, Moonee Valley 25th of July, 2009.

King of Ashford (NZ)

Brown Gelding 2000 - 18/7/2009, by His Royal Highness (NZ) ex Zena's Wish (NZ)
Trainer:Kelvin Bourke at GEELONG
Owners: R Lyons, P Kean, P Harrison, R Green
46 13-4-1 $380,083 Stakes AU
Caulfield ~ 1400m Handicap
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Grand old warhorse and a veteran of nearly 50 race starts King of Ashford (NZ) collapsed and died near the 1000m mark at Caulfield, 18th of July 2009.
RIP old boy.

Eightforall (AUS)

Chestnut gelding 2004 - 4/1/2008, by Keltrice ex Witching Hour
Trainer: Chris Parry at CRANBOURNE
Owners: EJ Legrand, HW Diston, E Mosca, YJ Zhu
15 3-0-3 $88,400 Stakes AU
~Photo 1 ~2 ~3
Cranbourne ~ 1400m Showcase 0 - 72
Talented, last start winner Eightforall (AUS) was eased down in the straight by his jockey, and finally collapsed near the 50m mark, he died from a rptured aeorta, Cranbourne 4th of January, 2009.

Lancettier (ARG)

Bay gelding 2000 - 26/12/2007, by Numerous (USA) ex L'Amarine (ARG)
Trainer: D Hayes at LINDSAY PARK
Owners: Mr D Lee
53 5-8-3 $279,175 Stakes AU
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Cheltenham ~ 1800m Handicap
After starting his career of in Hong Kong before being transferred to David Hayes, war horse Lancettier (ARG) broke down badly in the near foreleg suspensory ligaments during running, and was euthansed on track, Cheltenham 26th of December, 2008.

RIP Sunburnt Land (AUS)

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Special mention today to the lovely, honest horse 'Sunburnt Land (AUS) who was tragically struck by lightning last night in his paddock in outer Melbourne and died. The Scenic (IRE) 5 year old gelding earned almost $380,000 in his brief career, highlighted by a win in the Gr 2 Caulfield Sprint only 1 month ago.

Sunburnt Land (AUS) had been sent for a short spell after finishing third to Swick in last Saturday's Group One Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) at Flemington. At his previous start he finished a luckless third to Hot Danish in the Salinger Stakes at Flemington on Derby Day.

A Group 1 win was not far away for this luckless galloper, however it was not to be with the tragic news this morning. I for one will miss this emerging galloper.

Amelia's Dream back in action

So nice to see top filly Amelia's Dream back in action, after she fractured her sesamoids earlier in the year!
Read about it here, with photos~

Courts In Session (AUS) to lead out field

Popular galloper Courts In Session (AUS), who broke down in the Gr1 George Main Stakes at Randwick in 2006 will be making a public appearance when he leads the field out for the Gr3 Patinack Farm Cameron Hanidcap at Broadmeadows on the 17th of September, 2008.

This retired grand galloper won this very race 2 years ago.

Read about it here

RIP Juste Momente

Like to make a mention of a great mare, Group one winning Juste Momente who died earlier this month after a bout of colic. The five year old grey won the Robert Sangster Stakes Group I, and earned over half a million in prize money.

The only Group 1 winner by Giant's Causeway in Australia, Juste Momente was one of the most valuable mares in the country and was set to make her stud debut this year.

Mile High Club (AUS)

Chestnut gelding 2004 - 1/8/2008, by Good Journey (USA) ex Our Flying Babe
Trainer: Rick Hore-Lacy at CAULFIELD
Owners: RG Hore-Lacy, RS Dalgleish, JM Vaughan, C Pannousi, B Reimann
7 0-0-0 $600 Stakes AU
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Geelong Synthetic Track ~ 2000m Maiden
On his birthday of all days, the well named gelding Mile High Club (AUS) was eased at the top of the straight and pulled up by his rider. He had ruptured tendons in his near hind leg, and had to be euthanased on track, 1st August 2008.

Spanish Symbol (AUS)

Bay gelding 1999 - 26/7/2008, by Personal Flag (USA) ex Dancing Senorita (NZ)
Trainer: Tom Hughes at FLEMINGTON
Owners: MV Roach, R Packer, J Pither
64 9-7-4 $379,700 Stakes AU
Moone Valley Hiskens Steeplechase 3712m
~Photo Shrogginet and Spanish Symbol
Accident prone Spanish Symbol (AUS) became the 12th jumps fatality this season when he fell at the fence at the 1300m mark, bringing down Father Patrick who was unharmed. Spanish Symbol (AUS) fractured his off fore leg and was euthanased on track, Moonee Valley 26th July 2008.

Spanish Symbol (AUS) was victorious in the Hiskens in 2007, but had been a problem jumper during the 2008 season. His trainer/owners, Racing Victoria and Chief Steward Des Gleeson have all been under fire for allowing the horse to race without training after falling several times in lead up runs. Here are a few articles regarding the controversy surrounding his race, and ultimate end.
~Article ~Article 2

Diamonds at Dawn (AUS)

Bay gelding 2000 - 28/6/2008, by Suresh (NZ) ex Lanark Mansion (GB)
Trainer: Bill Cerchi at COLAC
Owners: KM Elliott, RW Harper, JW Winter
65 15-11-14 $246,260 Stakes AU
Trackwork ~ Colac
~Photo ~Arcticle
Consistant stakes winning gelding Diamonds at Dawn (AUS) has sadly been euthanased after breaking down during trackwork, he stumbled upon pulling up and fractured a hind leg, 28th June 2008. Posthumously, Diamonds at Dawn was yesterday announced as a finalist for the title of Victorian Country Horse of the Year, after winning back to back Mildura Cups, as well as victories in the Sungold Milk Camperdown, Markwells Sunraysia Toyota Mildura and Murray Downs Golf & Country Club Swan Hill cups.
He will be sadly missed.

Charted (NZ)

Brown gelding 1999 - 28/6/2008, by Pentire (GB) ex Duchesne (NZ)
Trainer: Kathryn Durden at GEELONG
Owners: S & P Cobbledick, D Dove, D Cobbledick, P McKay, P Grimmer
59 8-8-7 $212,650 Stakes AU
Flemington ~ Grand National Hurdle 4350m
Article Photo~1 ~2~
Also in the Grand National Hurdle today at Flemington, old war-horse Charted (NZ) fell at the hurdle at the 1400m mark, he fractured his hind leg and was euthanased, 28th of June 2008.
RIP, Charted.

Eveready (AUS)

Chestnut gelding 2001 - 28/6/2008, by Greig (NZ) ex Everloving
Trainer: Robert Smerdon at CAULFIELD
Owners: M T Racing Pty Ltd, D Trussler, B Danaher, A Bongiorno, J Bongiorno, J Rothfield, Clay Hero Pty Ltd
42 4-3-8 $44,360 Stakes AU
Flemington ~ Grand National Hurdle 4350m
Article
In an action packed event today, the Grand National brought about falls aplenty, with only 4 runners actually finishing the race.
At the second last hurdle, the runners were directed around the jump as an injured jockey was unable to be moved. Eveready (AUS) broke down on the flat approaching this jump, after being made to take a wrong step in order to avoid the jump. He suffered a significant injury and was euthanased on track, Flemington 28/6/2008.

Silky Red Boxer (NZ)

Bay gelding 1999 by Casual Lies (USA), stakes winning gelding Silky Red Boxer (NZ) broke down in his near front doing track work at Rosehill in Feburary 2007, He has had a big operation on it to save him, which was successful and he has now returned to New Zealand to retire in Levin. He will never race again.
He was trainer by Heather Weller in Foxton NZ, then transferred to Sydney where he won 4 races, beating Spirt of Tara a few times.
Jimmy was a great little racehorse with a big heart. Photo~1
'Contrbuted by reader'

Piermont (NZ)

Brown gelding 1993 - 21/6/2003, by Omnicorp (NZ) ex Sublime Lass (NZ)
Trainer: ?
Owners: M Owen, R Fleetwood
64 13-13-7 $222,437 Stakes AU
Moonee Valley ~ Ian MacDonald Steeplechase
Article ~Photo
On the same day as Supreme Heights and Philanthrop (same race as Philanthrop) Piermont clipped a jump and fell on the first lap. He had severely injured his spine, and was unable to be moved, and was still alive as the field thundered past him on lap two. He was then euthanased where he lay, 21st of June 2003.
This was described to me by someone who was there, to be the worst thing they had ever witnessed at a racetrack - ....'the fallen horse was terrified as the field came back around, with the sound like thunder, and the horse basically paralysed, jumping very close to where he lay struggling, why they couldn't put the poor horse down in the 3 minutes they had until the field came back around, i will never know....'

Supreme Heights (NZ)

Bay gelding 1997 - 21/6/2003, by Zabeel (NZ) ex Holly Hunter (NZ)
Trainer: ?
Owners: R Legh, N Griffin, J Kennedy, J Kennedy, Gurners Bloodstock Co, L Alderson, P O'Mara
29 5-3-3 $65,600 Stakes AU
Moonee Valley ~ 3200m Ted Best Hurdle ~Photo
Supreme Heights broke down during the Ted Best Hurdle, and was euthanased on track, Moonee Valley 21st of June, 2003. He was the first of three horses who lost thier lives on this day at Moonee Valley.

Crying Storm (AUS)

Bay/brown gelding 2001 - 14/6/2008, by Torrential (USA) ex Late Watch
Trainer: Peter Gelegotis at MOE
Owners: M Gotis, Caraman, Working Class Man, GD Williams, SJ Moss, T Dimopoulos, I Grant, JD Manson, G Argeropoulos, E Gelegotis
50 8-1-2 $220,100 Stakes AU
Australian Hurdle ~ Sandown, 3200m
Photo~1 2~ 3~ 4~

Photos 14/6/2008, post and pre-race.
Pre race Post breakdown 1~ Post~2~ Post~3~ Post~4~

In horrific scenes in front of the crowded grandstand in the Australia Hurdle, Crying Storm landed badly after the fifth hurdle, and broke down. He fractured his off fore leg above the knee, and continued hobbling for a further 100m, hitting the running rail before he was stopped. He was quickly euthanased behind a screen at the winning post before the field came around for the finish.
Crying Storm was a good flat performer winning four races including a 2000m open handicap at Flemington and running fourth to Exalted Time in the Adelaide Cup, then a Group One race, as a four-year-old.The season before that he finished eighth to Tails Of Triomphe in the 2005 South Australian Derby.

This was personally witnessed by myself today, and is one of the worst break downs I have seen, Crying Storms off foreleg was literally swinging as he continued to run on three good legs. I will, at a later stage include some photos I took of this incident today.
*Personally Witnessed.
RIP Crying Storm.

Spin Queen (AUS)

Chestnut filly 2003 - April 2008, by Dolphin Street (FR) ex Miss Teresa
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Not technically a training/racing death, but speedster SPIN QUEEN, winner of 4 in 6 race starts (and one placing) has died from colic whilst spelling, April 2008.

Missing horses found

Katdanch - confirmed euthanased.
Botero (NZ) - Will not race again, but has been saved Photo~ ~1 ~2

One fell at Murray Bridge today, more to come.