into the death found the Aidan O’Brien-trained stallion was administered a nerve block injection on October 9. Despite concerns about the horse’s fitness, CT scans were not done to determine the extent of the horse’s injuries. For the record, a nerve block is a type of anaesthetic commonly used by vets when a horse is lame in order to locate – presumably, by a process of nerve elimination – the site of its soreness. Obviously, a CT scan tells you a lot more. Was a CT imaging machine readily available? Yes. One had been obtained across town from Flemington at the Werribee international equine facility after another foreign horse (also trained by Aidan O’Brien) had been euthanised after the 2018 Cup. Reportedly, the unpublished VRC report makes no criticism of Mr O’Brien, the management of the highly prized horse, or the conduct of the treating vet. Just another one of racing’s animal casualties. If this is how badly a highly valuable champion like Anthony Van Dyck is treated in Australasia’s premier race, what treatment is being meted out to the also-rans of the racing industry?