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Ms Funovits not nobbled

West Australian Racing
PerthTurfTalkPerthTurfTalk    3,054 posts
edited May 2013 West Australian Racing

In an interview with RSN's Shane Anderson today, CEO of RWWA, Richard Burt has admitted that results back from the autopsy of Karrakatta Plate winner, Ms Funovits, showed she had a heart disease. 

WA Racing came under the spotlight when Ms Funovits crashed and died before the Sires Produce Stakes, just two weeks after her impressive win in our premier two year old race. The owner was not accepting the result of accidental death, deciding to conduct his own tests to dertermine the cause of death. 

It was a strange set of events leading up to the Sires, where connections employed security guards to watch Ms Funovits, days out from the race. 

The implication was that she was nobbled and WA Racing copped the rap. 

Burt's stunning admission puts those allegations to bed. Listen to the audio: http://www.rsn.net.au/audioplayer/1368152601.mp3
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Comments

  • Raff_2000Raff_2000    802 posts
    edited May 2013
    I do =D> Richard for coming forward and telling the truth and at least we now know the very unforntunate reason into the sad passing of Miss Funovits.

    I think there will be a few relieved people around the W.A racing circles that's for sure.

    Chris, Chelsea likes this post.

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  • Paulo8Paulo8    253 posts
    Good grief. You believe that you'll believe anything.

    Chelsea dislikes this post.

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  • TiversTivers    7,720 posts
    Why is it a stunning admission ?
    I'd have thought it was the most logical explanation.

    (Hmmmmmm..................I wonder what could have given her a dodgy ticker)
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  • TheDivaTheDiva    13,248 posts
    Id have thought it in the best interests of WA racing to announce that as soon as possible to squash the innuendo created by the owner. Im surprised there hasnt been an official communication.
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  • TiversTivers    7,720 posts
    Sort of my point, yeah
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  • RIORIO    14,902 posts
    edited May 2013

    argh..yes so your saying the explanation isn't stunning...I agree, the fact that he only admits that publicly after all this time and all this media questiong..now that is truly stunning.

    I'm with Diva, the day RWWA knew that, is the day it should have been out out there...Just another example of Richard "leaky" Boat dealing with the issues...

    #-o
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  • Piston_BrokePiston_Broke    2,047 posts
    Hope they sent Sadlier and Sly a note "stick ur horses up your backside"

    scenic11 likes this post.

    Paulo8, PieMan dislikes this post.

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  • TiversTivers    7,720 posts
    a note saying "see you in court" (defamation) would be more appropriate ?

    rick, scenic11, Piston_Broke, SPUDLEY likes this post.

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  • lamelame    1,757 posts
    edited May 2013
    Tivers said:

    (Hmmmmmm..................I wonder what could have given her a dodgy ticker)

     off topic a bit but

    i've wondered recently steriods increase muscle , the heart is a muscle
    could weanlings/yearlings(so near on everyone would be unaware of the occurrence) that have had steriods create a dodgy heart ? because if a shot that was supposed to go intramuscle and accidently is intravenous that growth hormone would then affect the heart ????
    would or could that create a enlarged heart , good horse , dicky ticky ???
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  • Paulo8Paulo8    253 posts
    It's an epidemic. Good luck to you all. 

    REDONE likes this post.

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  • lamelame    1,757 posts
    paulo8 i really feel for phil , as i'm lead to believe he is a really nice bloke and has been to hell and back on multible occasions not just on the ms f . but if someone is that concerned for their horses well fair would you not be sleeping and watching over the horse 24/7 yourself then there would be no doubts and laugh if you want but it wouldn't be the first time and wouldn't be the last . miracles of life would be the last of the top of my head
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  • ThumperThumper    820 posts
    In todays west RWWA cheif vet Judith Medd states that the post mortem results are not available until next. Where has Richard Burt got his information from?
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  • wedgewedge    269 posts
    i find it a bit strange that the recent cardiac arrest seems to occur on the way to the gates?  is there a vet out there that may be able to shed some light on the interesting correlation of timing of heart attacks?
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  • RodentRodent    7,470 posts
    I was a vet and I would be very surprised if it were just coincidence.

    wedge likes this post.

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  • wedgewedge    269 posts
    i subscribe to that theory aswell @Rodent


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  • Paulo8Paulo8    253 posts
    wedge said:

    i find it a bit strange that the recent cardiac arrest seems to occur on the way to the gates?  is there a vet out there that may be able to shed some light on the interesting correlation of timing of heart attacks?


    This is my point W, you can search far and wide to find any 2yr olds (or older) that have suffered this condition pre-race.

    Further, to those above who think it is fine that horses die and trainers should 'stick their horses', you are part of the problem and I hope you enjoy watching PR contract year on year. Terrible attitude.

    wedge likes this post.

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  • RadmanRadman    1,992 posts
    Any chance you could disclose your interest in this issue P8?

    SPUDLEY likes this post.

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  • Paulo8Paulo8    253 posts
    Not much point is there Rad? It appears I am the only one on this forum that thinks the death of a few horses, including one approaching barriers in a race, during a period that the media is reporting race fixing and other fiddling, could be related. And yes I am saying all this despite the words of your spiritual leader R Burt.

    In any case, I choose to stop talking about it, right now. My opinion has been stated and ultimately it matters not. 
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  • RadmanRadman    1,992 posts
    Yep, entirely your choice bud. Just curious was all.
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  • ArloArlo    122 posts
    Deaths relating to "cardiac failure" in California have risen from 4 in 2009 to 6 in 2011 and now 11 in 2012.
    7 out of the 11 horses in 2012 were all trained by the one trainer.He is a very high profile trainer and one wonders why he should have such a high percentage.
    So Paulo8 you are not the only one who is concerned, and I just hope that the authorities here are as well.
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  • thefalconthefalcon    20,485 posts
    we'd have bloody heart attacks if we had what they had...by the sound and smell of it...
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  • Piston_BrokePiston_Broke    2,047 posts
    fark  sly and his mates, had security there from tues onwards, but no one from his camp did anything untoward, so lets just say it was got at, and blame WA.......he can stick his horses
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  • senseisensei    100 posts
    No one likes losing a horse especially a quality animal like Ms F. If it were me I'm not sure a phone call from Perth Racing in the aftermath would really make much difference to the disappointment I would be feeling. In any event I am not sure why the trainer had any issues as I was told it was his directive that all correspondence go through his representative as has been pointed out on this forum numerous times.

    Further if I was fortunate enough to win a 500k race I'd be happy enough to buy my own Moet.

    I also find it peculiar that they insisted on their own security and felt compelled to tell everyone of this.

    I'd be interested to know what they reinsured Ms F for after her Karakatta win. I have heard rumours that $1 million was the figure. Given Sly took every opportunity to tell all and sundry that he thought Ms F better than Mosheen could this figure be correct?

    I bring this up to demonstrate that in this horrible situation there may have been a commercial reality that alleviated their loss to a degree.

    Am I being unreasonable?


    RIO, Chelsea likes this post.

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  • Paulo8Paulo8    253 posts
    It was re-insured for an uprated sum, luckily however given that she was almost certainly likely to win more Group races and was given approval to mate Sumii's 'Delta Blues', she was worth a lot more than figure that alive.
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  • Paulo8Paulo8    253 posts
    I'm not letting this go am I? :-B
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  • IntoItIntoIt    659 posts
    a n article in tuesdays west page 10 re The Yixiu L-Carnitine slimming capsule contains the prescription only sibutramine, a substance known to increase the risk of heart attack. Is banned in australia but coming in on-line.L-Carnitine is pushed as a supp for horses, quite legit.Perhaps someone went over board.
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  • HenleyBrookHenleyBrook    408 posts
    @Into It   - I once took L-Carnatine. Worked a treat for keeping your weight down while maintaining muscle mass and didn't have a stimulant effect like other weight control supplements.
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  • thefalconthefalcon    20,485 posts
    i hope you are joking, hb!! :|
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  • TheDivaTheDiva    13,248 posts
    Wednesday, 15 May 2013
    MEDIA RELEASE

    Thoroughbred – RWWA Stewards Investigation regarding MS FUNOVITS

    Background

    On Saturday 20th April, 2013 the two year old Thoroughbred racehorse MS FUNOVITS, trained by John Sadler, collapsed and subsequently died unexpectedly after completing a preliminary warm up exercise of approximately 700m before the commencement of Race 6 the Group 3 W.A. Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) at Ascot racecourse.
    Subsequent to this occurrence post mortem samples were collected on course from MS FUNOVITS for the purpose of testing for substances prohibited in racing at the ChemCentre WA, and the filly was conveyed to Murdoch University for necropsy, in accordance with RWWA Stewards policy.
    In addition to these measures RWWA Investigators also conducted interviews by phone and email with the connections of MS FUNOVITS to establish any clinical history that may assist in determining the cause of unexpected death of this filly.

    Result of investigations

    All evidentiary reports have now been received by RWWA Stewards from all external service providers contracted to investigate the cause of death of this filly. Reports have been received from the Murdoch University Pathology Department, Murdoch University Equine Medicine Department, the ChemCentre WA and the Department of Agriculture and Food WA (DAFWA).

    The final necropsy report from Murdoch University Pathology Department has ruled out acute internal haemorrhage, neurological disease or trauma as a likely cause of death.

    The report further states that histological examination of tissue specimens collected from the heart of MS FUNOVITS demonstrated the presence of a mild multifocal lymphocytic myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle). Scientific literature states that myocarditis can be a potential predisposing cause of acute cardiac arrhythmia in the horse, by way of interfering with the normal conduction of impulses from the sinoatrial node through the muscle of the heart. Cardiac arrhythmia is reported in the literature to be one of the most common causes of unexpected death in normal racehorses and can also be induced by exercise, and high sympathetic tone which is a common feature of athletic horses’ hearts.

    Myocarditis in the horse has been described in the literature as a possible sequelae to viral infection, in particular infection by Flaviviruses (this virus group includes mosquito borne viruses such as Murray Valley Encephalitis and Kunjin Virus).

    Subsequent to the diagnosis of myocarditis a blood sample from MS FUNOVITS collected post mortem was conveyed to DAFWA for serological examination, and this revealed MS FUNOVITS’s blood to have a positive antibody titre to Flaviviruses, indicating prior exposure of the filly to a type of Flavivirus. It is therefore possible that the mild myocarditis may have resulted from viral exposure although clinical signs of such exposure and subsequent myocarditis may have been mild or absent.

    In addition the results from a routine blood test collected and tested on Friday 19th April, 2013, and supplied to RWWA Stewards by the connections of MS FUNOVITS subsequent to the filly’s death, demonstrated the presence of a markedly low serum potassium level (hypokalaemia). The potential significance of this hypokalemia in relation to the death of this filly is unable to be determined conclusively, as although hypokaleamia is documented in the literature as a potential trigger of fatal cardiac arrhythmia in both humans and domestic animals, it is not known if the hypokaleamia demonstrated on the day before the race was transient, or persistent to the day of the race, and as such the potential involvement of hypokaleamia in the triggering of a cardiac arrhythmia in this case can be considered speculative only.

    A summary report from the Murdoch University Equine Medicine Department concluded that after reviewing both the necropsy and haematology reports for MS FUNOVITS that “It is likely that the mild structural abnormality of the heart (myocarditis), combined with the normal autonomic nervous system alterations that occur with the onset of exercise, as well as the possible superimposition of a hypokaleamia, collectively triggered a fatal cardiac arrhythmia”.

    Screening for the presence of substances prohibited in racing and toxicology tests

    The ChemCentre WA have reported to RWWA Stewards that the samples, including liver, collected post mortem from MS FUNOVITS have been tested by the laboratory for the presence of substances prohibited in racing and toxins likely to result in death, and all samples have been found to be negative.

    Conclusion

    RWWA Stewards report that the investigation into the unexpected death of MS FUNOVITS is now concluded and find that the unexpected race day death of this filly after preliminary exercise was most likely caused by the occurrence of fatal cardiac arrhythmia. Fatal cardiac arrhythmia is reported in the literature as one of the most likely causes of sudden death in race horses and can be predisposed or caused by structural abnormalities of the heart (i.e. myocarditis), normal exercise and high sympathetic tone of equine cardiac muscle.

    In addition, the RWWA Stewards find that in the absence of evidence that any toxins or substances prohibited in racing were found in samples collected post mortem from this filly, the unexpected death of MS FUNOVITS resulted from biological causes and was not caused by the administration of prohibited substances or toxins.

    Media Contact: Dr Judith Medd – Racing Industry Veterinarian Ph: 9445 5459 judith.medd@rwwa.com.au
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  • thefalconthefalcon    20,485 posts
    thus endeth the lesson....

    TheDiva, rambette, Nevershowsurprise likes this post.

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