Anthony Van Dyck: tragedy again mars Melbourne Cup as horse euthanised

Tragedy again struck the Melbourne Cup after one of the pre-race favourites, Anthony Van Dyck, was euthanised after breaking down entering the home straight at Flemington Racecourse.

The five-year-old Irish stallion suffered a fractured fetlock on the final bend and pulled up. The horse, ridden by Hugh Bowman and owned by Aidan O’Brien, was taken from the track by ambulance and later put down.

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“It is with sadness that we confirm that Anthony Van Dyck had to be humanely euthanised after sustaining a fractured fetlock during the running of the Melbourne Cup at Flemington,” Racing Victoria’s Jamie Stier said.

“The horse received immediate veterinary care, however he was unable to be saved due to the nature of the injury sustained.

“Our sympathies are extended to the owners of Anthony Van Dyck, trainer Aidan O’Brien and all his staff who cared for the horse and are greatly saddened by their loss.”

The horse is the seventh to die after contesting the Melbourne Cup since 2013. Rostropovich suffered a fractured pelvis in the 2019 race and recovered.

Protests against animal cruelty are held annually around Melbourne Cup day and this year was no different.

Concerns that Anthony Van Dyck, who weighed in at 58.5kg, could not win the race were dismissed the day before the race.

The Caulfield Cup runner-up and last year’s English Derby winner arrived in Melbourne with high hopes of giving O’Brien his first Melbourne Cup victory.

O’Brien also lost a horse in 2018 when The Cliffsofmoher was put down after suffering a fractured shoulder.

More to follow.