Dubai officials defend rerunning Gold Cup
April 1, 2012DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - The Dubai Racing Club CEO says everything possible was done to assure horses in the rerun $1 million Dubai Gold Cup were fit, a day after two pulled out injured including one which was euthanized.
The race was initially halted after Godolphin Stables' Fox Hunt broke his right foreleg and was later euthanized.
Dubai Racing Club CEO Frank Gabriel said the race was rescheduled later Saturday after organizers consulted with the owners and thorough health checks were done on the horses. Owners were given the option of pulling out without penalty.
Opinion Poll won the race but Bronze Cannon, owned by Chechnya's strongman Ramzan Kadyrov, fractured a front leg and was euthanized. A second Godolphin horse, Grand Vent, suffered a hind limb fracture.