GILDED Venom, Western Australia's best racehorse, is fighting for his life after contracting a knee infection.

Trainer Steve Wallace said he was "95 per cent sure" the gelding would not race again.

Gilded Venom won the Group 1 Railway Stakes and has earned more than $1.3 million. The five-year-old is being treated for a bacterial infection that eats into the knee cartilage.

"He was a little better this morning, but he's still terribly lame," Wallace said.

"We're not sure how he got it, but he must have hyper-extended his knee and got a minute tear which developed a blood clot area for the bacteria to grow."

Antibiotics have had a minimal effect.

"His white cell count should be 400 and it's still up to 13,000," Wallace said.

Wallace had planned a Melbourne autumn campaign for Gilded Venom.

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I just hate hearing stories like these, this horse who hopefully can at least survive had a very bright future ahead of it.

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Courtesy of Perth Racing


Gilded Venom the star of the recently completed Festival of Perth Racing, has lost his battle against a bacterial infection and has been euthanized at the Baldivis Veterinary Clinic.


Steve Wallace the man who trained Gilded Venom was typically philosophical this morning, when talking to perthracing.com.au


“He had 19 days of the strongest anti-biotics known to man and his white cell levels were still increasing. We had no other option then to end it all today.”


“It is terrible news for everyone especially for the owners Neil and Meryl who are pretty upset today.”


“But that’s racing and he gave us a wonderful ride over the Festival.”


Gilded Venom erupted on the Perth racing scene during the summer, winning the Group 3 Asian Beau Stakes, Group 1 Railway Stakes and the Group 2 CB Cox Stakes as well as finishing second in the Group 3 RJ Peters and the Group 1 Kingston Town Stakes.


The muscular son of Golden Snake amassed over $1.13 million in prize money earnings, in a six race blitz which saw his ratings jump from 86 to 114 and had him poised for national greatness, with a proposed Brisbane winter campaign which would have ended in Melbourne for the Spring Carnival.


“I was confident before he went for his break he would come back even better if we looked after him with a good spell.” Wallace said.


Wallace discovered that Golden Snake’s offside knee had swollen up on New Years day, a similar infection that he had sustained when he was a yearling.


He was taken immediately to the Baldivis Veterinary Clinic but the infection failed to respond to treatment.


“We will bring him back to Black Watch Stud and bury him here.”


Gilded Venom was by Golden Snake – Daughters Charm and was bred at Durham Lodge and finished with a career record of 20-8-6-2 for stake money earnings of $1.131 million.

God don't you just hate stories like these? Especially with the successful ones. R.I.P Gilded Venom.

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Terrible news about Gilded Venom. Condolences to the connections and to the many fans of this wonderful upcoming superstar of a racehorse. Racing Greyhounds myself I cherish the winning moments as much as i can because never what could happen around the corner. My wonderful broodbitch who has now thrown 40 winners i couldn't imagine how i would feel if anything happen to her. RIP GLIDED VENOM

Yes Hussler I concur with what you say, it is a "damn shame", shattering for those close to the horse.