While most punters' eyes were locked on Field of Dreams storming home across the finish line, a few watched aghast as Sweet Sin toppled further back on the home straight.
Jockey Craig Grylls dismounted the brown filly about 100m away from the finish line of the feature race Captain Rio@Westbury Studfor 2YO, as she slowed and then crashed to the ground.
Track officials rushed to tend to the horse but she had died immediately of a heart attack, and was taken off the course by a tractor.
The Oaks Stud owned, and Keith and Brendon Hawtin trained Sweet Sin made her debut at Ruakaka Race Track only three weeks ago. She ran second ahead of yesterday's feature race winner Field of Dreams, in third place.
Oaks Stud general manager Rick Williams said it was a sad day for the Cambridge based-outfit.
"It's a very sad day for us her, she showed a lot of promise. Heart attacks are not common at all especially for horses that young, but it sometimes happens in racing, or training. I think the last time I remember it happening was 15 or 16 years ago," Williams said.
Sweet Sin's death marred an otherwise exciting first leg of the Whangarei Racing Club 2YO Triple Crown Westbury Stud sponsored points series.
Ardmore trainer Stephen McKee watched Field of Dreams dominate the other young horses, and win comfortably by two and three quarter lengths, ahead of the favourite Purpose, ridden by Tasha Collett, and Moirai, in third place, with James McDonald on board.
Field of Dreams will be one to watch in the following legs of the points series, on June 22 and July 16 at Ruakaka.
Meanwhile, Whangarei Racing Club secretary Kristine Jones said the turnover at the meeting was on par with last year.
She was pleased with the crowd of about 1500, who had turned out to enjoy the mid-week race day.
