Updated on 03/31/2012 12:17PM

Dubai World Cup: Riders directed to pull up mounts during Gold Cup; race will be re-run later in the day

By David Grening
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Dubai racing officials called off the running of the $1 million Gold Cup midway through the two-mile race after a horse broke down in the stretch the first time around the course and could not be moved. Track offiicials, after speaking with the connections of the horses, decided that the race will be re-run at 2:20 p.m. Eastern, after the Dubai World Cup.

Godolphin’s Fox Hunt broke a leg about an eighth of mile into the Gold Cup, which was being run on Dubai World Cup night for the first time. Officials, who drive alongside the outer rail in a vehicle, instructed the other riders to pull their horses up.

Fox Hunt, who was the morning-line favorite, had to be euthanized. Jockey Sylvester de Sousa was okay and was expected to ride the remainder of the card.

Jockey Frankie Dettori, who was riding Opinion Poll for Godolphin, said there was no other choice but to stop the race.

“The horse broke his leg, he fell right near the point on the corner where we swing for home,” Dettori said. “The officials drove along - luckily - to stop the race because if we didn’t stop the race we would have run the horse over and there would have been more casualties.”

Teri Tablack Popovich More than 1 year ago
Horses are bred to compete. Beautiful creatures. Accidents are bound to happen, and idiots who think banning this wonderful sport should be around these Equine athletes for awhile to see they llive and breathe to run.
RunningDog More than 1 year ago
Lou, I have horses at a farm in CA, this farm also has a dozens of retired horses running in a huge pasture, which is about 15 acres. These horses run free and at times I have seen 40 horses sprinting in single file out in the field. These horses are going to run whether they are racing or not. Injuries are going to happen to them whether they are racing, or running in the wild. Its unfortunate, but they like to run. I would say a horses chances are better being at the racetrack then running free.
LouB More than 1 year ago
ban horse racing all together. enough of this madness
chad mc rory More than 1 year ago
How long were you waiting for this accident to happen? You were beggin for it weren't you. Have you ever adopted a horse or made a contribution to any of the retirement programs out there. Go back in your closet. The world out here is WAY too positive for you.
Michael Jourdan More than 1 year ago
your an idiot
David Glasser More than 1 year ago
go get your head checked, horses love to run and compete
Ange More than 1 year ago
Get off the DRF site if you're such a horse racing hater. Go back to your lying bunch of PETA friends.
Jamie Williams More than 1 year ago
You obviously don't know anything about horse racing, go back to NASCAR....
chad mc rory More than 1 year ago
They don't want him... Tho mebbe them boys could have alittle fun with him
Babette Cade More than 1 year ago
let's ban you and your Starbucks drinking little friends whose lives are mundane, shallow and preoccupied with the doings of those who actually DO. Look at Humane Watch to find the truth about these silly dopeheads, PETA and HSUS included. I find it more than ironic that the stoners who find themselves incapacitated morally, psychologically and physically by their own drug use find the legal use of drugs objectionable for athletes. I suppose it could be said that they have their heads collectively where the sun don't shine!
Crescent Moon More than 1 year ago
@LouB - Brave of you to lead with your compassion among this barbaric company. I salute you. Horses do love to run. My 3 rescues delight in taking off for a few graceful laps, and then settling down to graze for a while. I'm sure each of them would be simply thrilled to do this sometime with a little muscle-bound rider on their back whacking away at them with a whip. We'll never know, because it'll never happen. Also, these little breakdowns incidents do tend to happen. We don't have detailed statistics on how often, though, because gathering that data would be too complex. This is the excuse lamely (pun) offered by the same industry that can serve up any horse's last workout time down to a hundredth of a second. But, yeah, it'd be impossible to keep an accounting of catastrophic breakdowns. This sport is run by cowards who profit from putting these noble, elegant creatures in harm's way with every race entry.
Anne More than 1 year ago
Hey Crescent Moon, You obviously don't read a lot of racing publications because if you did you would have known that a breakdown study was just published by Thoroughbred Times. Yes, horses do breakdown do to stress of competition however, due to conformation, breeding, training technique, etc. they may get injured by sheer will to win. The improvements in track surface, safety rails, etc. have reduced the number of overall injuries and there is still room for improvement. Racing, in one form or another, has been going on for a very long time-"my horse is faster then yours", ok , prove it. Don't think side wagers weren't taken either, so trying to ban horse racing is ludicrous. The horses I have worked with (both cheap claimers and stakes horses) get the best of care. Yes, people will make money from them but there are alot of small operations that you won't hear about that are barely making it. There are rules in place for abusing racehorses (not always enforced) that should be made more important in the regulation scheme of things. The majority of owners, trainers, jockeys, grooms, and officials, do the right thing, unfortunately the ones who don't are the ones glorified by the media, PETA, etc. and therefore the entire industry is said to be bad. Thank you for adopting your horses there are many like you (we need more). I hope this has clarified some of the comments.
Crescent Moon More than 1 year ago
@Ann - No need to look as far as the media or PETA. I spent a decade on the racetrack and can guarantee anyone reading this that those who proclaim that majority of owners, etc, do the right thing are only fooling themselves. After spending years there with the philosophy that at least the ones under my care were treated well at the barn, I had to leave after one of the horses in our barn was brought back from a race on the meat wagon and allowed to suffer through the night (Arlington Park/1980s) while some insurance issues were sorted out. She was finally put out of her misery late the next morning. I won't wish a "rest in peace" for her or for Fox Hunt or for Bronze Cannon, the second horse who died in the Gold Cup today. I doubt resting is for them. What I will wish them, and however many dead horses your Thoroughbred Times study discovered, is dignity and freedom to run the way horses are meant to run - in a herd, far from starting gates, betting, noisy grandstands and money-hungry fools.
Virginia L Stickley More than 1 year ago
So banning the sport in your eyes is the way to go huh? And what exactly is going to happen with all these horses when that happens? Are you going to adopt them all? Didn't think so... Unfortunately, there are a lot of careless people in the world and not just in horse racing. Do you honestly believe that horses deserve to be lawn ornaments for people like you? They are born to run. No the system may not be perfect but stop treating it as if they are ignoring all this negative publicity
Virginia L Stickley More than 1 year ago
Because they know they have a problem. But what do you expect when they hear this on a daily basis? Efforts are being made, and I know that for a fact. It's not something that happens overnight. But you can guarantee that if horse racing is banned, these horses will be dumped probably sold for slaughter, and left to starve and rot in someone's field. From working at the track you know they are well taken care of. Some say they are the most pampered horses in the equestrian world, but no, not all of them. Not all people care for horses like you and I but it doesn't mean the sport should banned, it means those who do mistreat should be banned from setting foot on a racetrack. It's hard for me to deal with as well, believe me. I lost a horse a couple years ago. Completely blew out his sesamoid. The vet told me it was the way he was hitting the ground, that I couldn't have done anything to prevent that from happening. So I bit my tongue and I helped him relax as he was put to sleep. Was it awful, yes, do I wish I could have done more, yes, but I have accepted that these things happen. It could have just as well happened in any other profession. But I don't believe that banning it will solve your problems.
Crescent Moon More than 1 year ago
@Virginia L Stickley - Check your meds, and make whatever adjustment will help your reading comprehension and tone down the hyperbole. I did not type the word "ban." When horse racing was abandoned after the Ruffian tragedy, horses suffered more than ever. "Banning" horse racing would be tantamount to imposing economic sanctions on a Third World country - the lowest ranks would suffer most and that means the horses would suffer most. Banning is not the solution. The solution is for the decent people associated with the industry to step up and truly admit the depth of the horrors that exist. And then do the very hard work of cleaning things up. As long as people are deceived into believing in fairy tales about horse racing, nothing will truly change for the animals. And, ya know, I don't look at my horses as yard ornaments. I view them as survivors. They somehow survived having their bodies laid on the line several times a year so that their owners and trainers could maybe win a few bucks. And then when those cowards deemed the odds of winning those few dollars too low, I was lucky enough to be there when my horses were tossed aside. And since you had to go and get personal, I'll just say I wouldn't trade one of my horses for a dozen humans of your ilk. So if you're calling them yard ornaments, let's just estimate your status somewhere below their manure, shall we?
Anonymous More than 1 year ago
@ Crescent Moon Boy, you sure do have a classy attitude! Not only have I worked on race horses but I have worked for the racing commission. If you are so riled up why don't you get involved with the judges or regulatory body where u are from? I am sorry you have dealt with unscrupulous owners, etc. and have a bitter taste in your mouth but I guess some of us have worked to try and change things. Some of our efforts have worked and some unfortunately have not(like talking to a brick wall-the "good old boy system is still in place). We will continue to chip away and maybe some day we will win, but until then, I suggest you do something mature and direct your anger at those who are greed ridden and quit painting the rest of us with that same brush.
Crescent Moon More than 1 year ago
@ Anonymous (brave name you've chosen btw) - Exactly how do you presume to know what work I do or do not accomplish in an effort to change this industry? If you're that adept at online sleuthing, I think Julian Assange might like to speak with you. To you and to each of the above who claim to care about horses, yet are so comfortable with the number of horse deaths and the amount of horse brutality on the racetrack that you feel a need to attack anyone who dares speak out against it, all I can say is that you're in severe, pathological denial. Much like an alcoholic, your first step to wellness would be to recognize and admit that you have a problem. Of course, that's easier said than done. I continue to work for horse welfare, and continue to speak out even among low life like you, because those of us who are on solid ground realize that stopping the denial is an essential component of fixing this industry.