Disorganized stride, completely disoriented… stopped in mid-race, a horse dies a few minutes later in its box

Haya Zark avait été victime d’un problème physique (illustration). EPA – IAN LANGSDON

The Mayenne horse Haya Zark, aged 5, died of a ruptured aneurysm on Sunday 6 October in the middle of a race during the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in Paris. It was his last race before being used for breeding.

This Sunday, October 6, 2024, during the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at the Paris-Longchamp racecourse (16th arrondissement), a horse that was participating in the race was removed from the pack during the race before dying a few days later, reports Paris Turf.

The 5-year-old horse Haya Zark, ridden by British jockey William Buick, took the start of the legendary horse race this Sunday. While he was among the frontrunners, the animal suddenly adopted unusual behavior, with a disordered stride and appearing completely disoriented.

The Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe was supposed to be his last race. After winning the Prix Ganay, Haya Zark was forced to stop in the final bend and collapsed shortly after the finish line of this world championship for thoroughbreds.

An investigation opened

According to the report of the France Galop stewards, an investigation has been opened to “examine the causes and consequences of the incident that affected Haya Zark”. After viewing the images of the race and hearing William Buick's testimony, the stewards validated the final results, concluding that Haya Zark had been the victim of a physical problem, without any fault being attributed to the other competitors, according to the specialized media.

He would have succumbed to a ruptured aneurysm, according to France Bleu. “A ruptured aneurysm is very rare. So it had to happen to him, there was just as much chance that I would win the Arc de Triomphe. That's how it is, it's awful", emphasizes Adrien Fouassier the trainer of Haya Zark for the past 3 years.

Haya Zark, trained in Mayenne by Adrien Fouassier and owned by Odette Fau, was making his last appearance in competition before becoming a stallion.

Adrien Fouassier said he was devastated and devastated by the death of this horse: "On the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, in the middle of the race, the horse began to slow down, the jockey decided to stop the race and take him back to the box where he collapsed." "He was part of the family'", he confided.

The 103rd edition of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe was won by the Irishman Rossa Ryan, associated with Bluestocking, who beat the Frenchman Stéphane Pasquier with his mount Aventure.