- Champion mare went unbeaten in 25 races
- Tragically died one day before her 18th birthday
- Owners have delivered more bad news
Connections and fans of Black Caviar have been dealt a double blow following the death of the legendary mare on Saturday.
The owners of the champion mare, which died one day before her 18th birthday, have announced that her most recent foal has also passed away.
Black Caviar, who went unbeaten in 25 races to be come an Australian racing icon, died following a brief battle with the hoof disease laminitis.
The difficult decision to euthanise the mare for humane reasons came just hours after she gave birth to her last foal.
Now, tragically, that foal has died from causes that are yet to be revealed.
‘The owners are saddened to advise that Black Caviar’s foal, a colt sired by Snitzel, passed away last night (Monday),’ read a statement made on Monday.
‘He received around-the-clock, world-class veterinary care, but unfortunately could not be saved.’
Black Caviar tragically died just one day shy of her 18th birthday and hours after giving birth to her ninth foal
Luke Nolen rides Black Caviar to win the TJ Smith Stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse in 2013 – her last year on the track
‘The ownership group would like to thank the entire veterinary team who dedicated their time and efforts to caring for Black Caviar and her colt.
‘The ownership group would also like to acknowledge and thank the Australian public and the racing public globally for the many tributes to Black Caviar.
‘She was much loved and admired.’
Black Caviar claimed nearly $8million in prize money across her stellar career and became highly coveted for breeding after her retirement in 2013.
She gave birth to nine foals in retirement before her tragic death the passing of her final foal.
Trainer Peter Moody said that the combination of Laminitis, which causes restricted blood flow to the feet, and a milk infection proved too much for the champion mare in the end.
‘We just treated it like you do with all broodmares, but like a lot of treatments, it went straight to her feet,’ Moody said on Saturday.
‘Basically, it killed her feet … they scanned her feet yesterday and there was no blood flow at all to her feet.
‘There was minimum blood flow to her feet anyhow, but there was none and she’s such a big girl.’
Black Caviar had a global influence and even Queen Elizabeth II was a fan of the champion mare (pictured)
The Thoroughbred Breeders NSW organisation has defended Black Caviar’s owners over criticism she was over-bred in retirement
The death of Black Caviar left many in racing circles shattered, while animal rights activists were up in arms over her premature passing.
However, Thoroughbred Breeders NSW president Hamish Esplin defended Black Caviar’s owners.
‘The amount of expense, time and effort, and structures that go in place dedicated to purely keeping these animals healthy is mind-boggling,’ Esplin told The Age.
‘I would estimate that close to 100 per cent of every dollar spent by a breeder, like the owners of Black Caviar, post-racing would be spent purely trying to keep the animal healthy and fit.
‘They want them to live a long and healthy life for as long as possible.’
