Perth Cup race abandoned after horror fall leads to death of horse
For the latest flood and weather warnings, search on ABC Emergency
Keep up with the latest ASX and business news
One horse has died and another has been injured after a shocking fall during Western Australia's highest-profile horse racing event.
The two horses fell to the turf just 200 metres into the Perth Cup, held in front of around 10,000 spectators on New Year's Day.
The event was abandoned mid-race.
West Australian mare Chili Is Hot had to be euthanised at the track, after being attended to by staff on the course.
Dom To Shoot, the other horse involved in the fall, "suffered abrasions and is slightly lame in the off-foreleg".
It got up after the fall and continued running, without a jockey.
The two jockeys, Peter Knuckey and Jordan Turner, were not injured.
Perth Racing said an investigation was underway.
"This is one of the hardest events for anyone involved with racing to deal with," Perth Racing chief executive James Oldring said.
"The welfare of jockeys and horses is always our top priority.
"Our thoughts are with all those connected with Chili is Hot."
The two jockeys walked away without serious injury.
The Perth Cup will be re-run on January 14.
The fall is the latest in a string of high-profile incidents that have prompted protests and criticism of the racing industry in recent years.
Several horses have died on Melbourne Cup day in recent years, prompting heightened calls from animal welfare groups for an end to racing.
That string of deaths led to additional testing requirements and oversight.
Protesters had gathered outside the Perth Cup, prior to the fatal accident.
We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work.
This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced.
AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)
