When the Gods Went to Sleep

The drama at the racetrack and the horse’s tragic fate shatter lives, blur the line between virtue and vice, and challenge the prevailing value system. Razhev’s $2 million bet to win is, in effect, a death sentence for the horse itself, as the horse would be skinned if Razhev wins—a stipulation dictated by the opposing side. In the effort to save the horse, trainer Ruslan dies; Razhev’s fiancée Lena commits suicide; Holstomer dies; and Razhev’s own fate will be decided by a lottery and a coin toss.