Horse dies of a heart attack after Aintree's totesport Bowl Chase

Apr 2 2009


By Staff Reporter



JONJO O’Neill’s Exotic Dancer died after suffering
a heart attack following the totesport Bowl Chase at Aintree.
The
nine-year-old finished second behind Madison Du Berlais in the Grade
Two contest, beaten four and a half lengths, but later collapsed upon
his return to the stables.
Exotic Dancer, owned by Sir Robert
Ogden, won eight of his 28 career starts, including the Grade One Lexus
Chase at Leopardstown earlier this season.
He was also placed in two Cheltenham Gold Cups, having finished third to Kauto Star last month.
O'Neill said: ``Half an hour after the race he was just walking along in the stables when he just lay down and that was it.
"He was very tired coming back in off the track.
"I said to Barry (Simpson, owner’s racing manager) he looked like he had run his heart out, and he looked really tired.
"We took the saddle off him and he went back to the stables and was OK.
"We
were leading him round and Hannah, who looks after him, felt he
wasn’t right so we took him down to the vets, where he laid down
and that was it - there was nothing we could do.
"He was a great old horse and you need those sort of horses in the yard.
"Winning the Lexus Chase at Christmas was my favourite day with him.
"He’d be the best chaser I have trained."
Simpson said: ``I haven't had a chance to speak to Sir Robert yet but he will be pretty devastated, as we all are.
"You
feel for everyone and not just ourselves. Hannah that looks after him
and cares for him every day, and it hits stable staff more than it hits
the owners.
"It has just happened so quick. He came back in and didn’t look quite right - he looked tired.
"It is a very, very sad end to a very, very good career for the horse.
"We bought him as a three-year-old and have kept him on the go.
"Even today, with the disappointment of not winning, we were making plans for next year but sadly that is not going to happen.
"We will have to go and find another one just like him, or even a little bit better than him, but
that won't be easy".





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:cryyyyyy: That is really sad R.I.P Exotic Dancer I cant watch horse racing just incase a horse falls Even flat racing Watched Goodwood flat racing years ago and three horses fell I used to like having a bet until once we had the racing on with me not watching the tele but listening and a horse fell The commentater said its ok the horse is back up so i turned round just intime to see the horses broken leg dangling and hearing the guy apologising for the channel showing it Made me feel sick :san56:

oh god :cryyyyyy: such a shame

know what you mean bren dont watch the Grand National tomoz lol

How sad. :love: