WASHINGTON – Eight-year-old bay gelding Arcadius died of a heart attack and aneurysm only moments after winning the $150,000 Iroquois Steeplechase horse race on Saturday, the Tennessean newspaper reported.
Track veteranarian Monty McInturff declared the cause of death for the horse in the aftermath of the six-horse race, in which Arcadius edged Tax Ruling for the victory by overtaking him for the lead in the last three of 18 jumps.
Tax Ruling was trying to become the first three-time winner in the 71-year history of the race.
Arcadius, ridden by Brian Crowley, was being cooled down after the three-mile race when he collapsed just beyond the finish line after being cheered to victory by a cowd of 25,000 at Percy Warner Park.
Crowley was posing for pictures with Arcadius owner Ed Sawyer when the horse collapsed.