Admire Rakti died of a rare form of ‘acute heart failure’

“The diagnosis is that the horse died of acute heart failure as a result of ventricular fibrillation probably, which is a disorganised heart rhythm which happens very, very rarely in human athletes and in horses and is a consequence of the athletic heart and the rapid heart rate during racing,” Dr Stewart said.

“It is very rare but it does occur.
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“It’s a disruption of the normal electrical conduction through the heart and there can be various sets of circumstances that might set it off. Athletes are probably more prone to the syndrome especially those with large hearts and a big capacity to raise the heart rate . . . throwing it into this abnormal rhythm and the heart is unable to supply enough blood for the body.”

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/sport/horseracing/autopsy-finds-admire-rakti-died-of-acute-heart-failure-racing-victoria-20141105-11gzg6.html#ixzz3I8WESlvx