Washington, May 14 (IANS): A champion horse died moments after winning a prestigious race in Nashville, US, RIA Novosti reported.
Arcadius died after winning the Iroquois Steeplechase. The eight-year-old had a heart attack and collapsed while his jockey Brian Crowley was celebrating with the animal and its owner Ed Swyer in the winner's enclosure Saturday.
"The horse ran a beautiful race, pulled up very cleanly and, as he was cooling down after the race, he had a heart attack," track veterinarian Monty McInturff told local newspaper The Tennessean.
"When I got to him on the scene, his heart was very irregular and he had a very weak blood pressure," he said.
There was nothing that could be done for Arcadius, McInturff said. "He died very quickly, very peacefully."
The jockey was too upset to speak after the horse died, the newspaper said.
By winning the race, Arcadius won the top prize of $90,000.