PENANG: A racehorse died of a suspected heart attack 10 minutes before it was due to run as one of the favourites in Race 8 at Batu Gantong here.

July In Gold was about to leave for the barriers around 5.30pm when it suddenly went berserk and dislodged jockey Alex Chew before collapsing.

Racegoers at the Penang Turf Club watched as veterinarians rushed to the aid of the Ipoh-based horse which was bleeding profusely from the mouth.

Blood samples would be sent to a laboratory for analysis to determine the actual cause of the horse's death.

?It?s so sad, I thought the veterinarians could have saved July In Gold,? said veteran race enthusiast L.H. Khor.

The seven-year-old horse had on May 20 last year romped home an easy winner here by 1 and a quarter lengths.

Bought for RM70,000 at the 2002 National Stud Farm Premier Sale in Tanjong Rambutan, the horse started 49 times for five wins, was placed second twice and once third, amassing RM196,517 in prize money.

Last Saturday, another horse, Warrior Hero, had to be put down after suffering a serious leg injury after completing its race.

The Penang Turf Club Christmas Meeting, the final leg of the 2007 racing season, will continue today with the staging of the prestigious RM1.35mil Yang di-Pertua Negeri Gold Cup, which will be run over the gruelling 2,200m at 4.05pm.

Governor Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas will give away the prizes to the winning connections of the race and present cheques totalling RM1.1mil to 22 charities in Penang.

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