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Melbourne Cup rocked by 'devastating' news as fans call for change to 'pathetic' farce

The situation has once again sparked debate ahead of the race that stops the nation.

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·4-min read

Punters are once again questioning why the Melbourne Cup field doesn't include emergencies after the withdrawal of Athabascan on Monday night reduced the field to 23. Racing Victoria announced just hours before the great race that Athabascan wouldn't be allowed to run due to what vets deemed was an increased risk of a cardiac episode.

A last-minute vet check found him to have a cardiac arrhythmia, and the outsider was subsequently ruled out. ECG reports and blood test results of the John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained horse were sent to three independent experts, who decided it was too risky for Athabascan to take his place in the field.

Athabascan, pictured here ahead of the Melbourne Cup.
Athabascan (second from left) is a late scratching from the Melbourne Cup. Image: Getty

A statement from Racing Victoria said: “They each independently advised that, due to the nature of the cardiac arrhythmia, Athabascan should undergo further extensive testing before being permitted to race again on the grounds of safety. Acting on these opinions and having considered additional material provided by the stable, RV veterinarians advised the stewards that in their view the horse should be withdrawn from the Melbourne Cup due to an increased risk of a cardiac episode.

“Accordingly, the stewards acting on veterinary advice, ordered the withdrawal of Athabascan. The remaining 23 horses have been passed suitable to race tomorrow.”

Tom Sherry, pictured here aboard Athabascan at Royal Randwick.
Tom Sherry aboard Athabascan at Royal Randwick in September. (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)

But because the barrier draw had already been completed, Athabascan can't be replaced in the race that stops the nation. Instead, the race will be run with one less horse than the maximum of 24.

Punters are once again questioning why Racing Victoria doesn't include emergency horses in the field for this exact scenario. It's been an issue for years, and always seems to spark debate ahead of the Melbourne Cup on an annual basis.

It's believed Racing Victoria are reluctant to change the system because it means they would need to fork out the cash to upgrade every TAB machine around the country, which would be a logistical nightmare. The current TAB system only has 24 slots for horses, meaning emergencies wouldn't be able to be included on betting forms. But punters have described it as "ludicrous" and "pathetic" because a number of horses would have only narrowly missed out on making the Melbourne Cup field, and should be allowed to come in late if another is scratched.

Meanwhile, connections of Athabascan have strongly disagreed with Racing Victoria's call and will seek a meeting with officials this week. Managing owner Terry Henderson said on Monday evening: "We have presented evidence that we felt that the horse did not have a problem and that was refuted, so we have asked for a meeting with stewards to review the situation.

“This is an interpretation issue and it’s not that we haven’t presented to them what we consider expert opinion on the horse’s ability to run. Disappointing is a mild word to use. The owners in the horse and John (O’Shea, the trainer) are devastated as the horse is in good form, he’s a proven two-miler and everything about the horse has indicated he has never worked better so it’s a pretty hard pill to swallow.”

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O’Shea reportedly told the horses owners in a voice message: “At his veterinary examination today, he had a slightly irregular heart beat at standing and at rest, which we’ve provided significant data on his ECG’s and his gallops that that is the horse. He had an ECG on his gallop on Saturday the horse was fine, We’ve provided veterinary evidence to stewards that he had a low troponin level, which means that there is no issue with his heart.

“But they have decided irrespective of all the vet advice we have provided to withdraw him. I can’t explain it. The horse is 100 per cent health and sound with all our data that we use is particularly good. I am deeply sorry for everyone involved, but it’s out of my hands.”