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Melbourne Cup Favorite Admire Rakti Finishes Last, Then Dies

By Bryan Rose

Oct 31, 2014; Santa Anita , CA, USA; Rafael Bejarano aboard Goldencents leads a group to the finish in race seven of the 2014 Breeders Cup Championships at Santa Anita Park. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 31, 2014; Santa Anita , CA, USA; Rafael Bejarano aboard Goldencents leads a group to the finish in race seven of the 2014 Breeders Cup Championships at Santa Anita Park. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Melbourne Cup favorite Admire Rakti dies moments after finishing last while fellow runner Araldo passes away after being spooked by a spectator.

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A usual fan favorite race, the Melbourne Cup became a scene for tragedy on Tuesday as pre-race favorite Admire Rakti died minutes after returning to his stall.

Just five minutes after the race concluded, Admire Rakti left the Malbourne Cup track and made its way to the rest area and then collapsed.

Many in the crowd were stunned at the race results which saw Admire Rakti finish last though it seems as if there was more to it than improper training or a poor day at the track.

Sadly it wasn’t the only tragedy to strike the Melbourne Cup either as just hours after Admire Rakti passed away fellow horse Araldo also died after it became spooked. Araldo underwent surgery in attempt to save its life after it suffered a broken leg though was sadly put down.

"Smart stayer Araldo was returning to the mounting yard when a young boy waved a white flag in the horse’s face. He leapt forward, jumping the steel rail, shattering a hind pastern bone in the process."

As for Admire Rakti, it’s believed the famed runner died from a massive heart attack or internal bleed though have yet to confirm a cause of death.

Admire Rakti’s jockey, Zac Purton understood something wasn’t right out of the gate.

“I felt something was wrong unfortunately and I didn’t push him out otherwise it might have happened earlier.”

Understandably both unfortunate and heartbreaking events put a huge damper on the always popular Melbourne Cup.

It’s the second straight year the Melbourne Cup has suffered a horse death as Verema broke down in the back straight in 2013 and was put down.

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