Horse Deaths Cast Shadow As Triple Crown Shifts To Preakness

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky Horse – A furious thunderstorm that washed out the activity at Churchill Downs on Sunday morning symbolized the dark clouds hanging over the Triple Crown following a distressing run of horse deaths.

Since April 27, seven horses have died from track injuries, including Derby entrant Wild On Ice. After suffering injuries before Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, Freezing Point and Chloe’s Dream were killed. Four suffered terrible limb injuries, two died suddenly from unknown causes, and another had a neck injury after spinning in the paddock.

This rash of events came four years after more than 30 horses died at California’s Santa Anita racecourse. These tragedies jolted the industry, prompting safety measures such as the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA), which formed a similarly lettered organization to provide standard safety and doping rules for thoroughbreds. A set of regulations is due to go into effect on May 22.

For now, the question is how the astonishing frequency of tragic injuries at horse racing’s cathedral affects the sport during its peak of visibility, with the Preakness and Belmont Stakes following in the next month. And how horse racing reacts to it.

“Everyone in the industry wants to make racing as safe as possible,” Todd Pletcher, Hall of Fame trainer, stated on Sunday. “And even in situations like that, where everyone is doing everything they can to ensure the horses are in the safest possible conditions right now, we still had two fatal breakdowns yesterday.” It’s something that keeps you awake at night as a trainer.”

Churchill Downs said in a statement Saturday night that it investigates each death in collaboration with the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority. The HISA organization later stated that Chloe’s Dream and Freezing Point “passed all inspections without incident” while observed in the paddock and post-parade.

Assessing issues such as necropsies, pre-existing health disorders, training sessions, and track surface examinations will take several weeks. Mick Peterson, a racecourse surface consultant who has worked with Churchill Downs since 2008 and was originally hired by HISA, stated on Sunday that the surface was consistent.

Sunday morning symbolized the dark clouds hanging over the Triple Crown following a distressing run of horse deaths.

The director of the University of Kentucky’s racecourse safety program noted that the evaluation is ongoing to maintain uniform track conditions and make necessary adjustments.

“We’ve got to look at every factor on that and get it so that we can further reduce the risk to protect them,” Peterson explained. “However, we need to learn more to determine whether this consistency will lead us to the required safety.” And we must continue to improve it.”

Concerns lingered over the 149th Derby, which was run with a field of 18 horses due to five scratches in the days preceding the race. The list of defections included the Pletcher-trained Forte, who bowed out on Saturday morning due to a damaged foot.

“I think he would have performed well (Saturday),” the trainer stated. “Unfortunately, that wasn’t an option.”

Many trainers and owners are debating whether to enter horses in the Preakness on May 20 in Baltimore. The second jewel of the Triple Crown is shorter at 1 3/16 miles, but it takes place only two weeks after the Derby, as opposed to the customary one-month gap.

Ramiro Restrepo, Mage’s co-owner and a bloodstock agent, will observe the colt’s workouts this week and talk with trainers and other owners before making any decisions.

His colt’s safety and well-being are always his top priority, especially after a heartbreaking week of loss with the animals they care for.

“We take care of them more than our children,” Restrepo added, expressing sympathy for stables that had lost horses. “But we were confident in how the horse was responding.” So we only have control over what is in our barn and front of us.”

SOURCE – (AP)