News
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)
News
Trudeau Rocks to Taylor Swift While Montreal Burns
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has come under fire yet again after a video surfaced on X, showing him dancing at a Taylor Swift performance while anti-Nato protestors ransacked downtown Montreal.
Trudeau attended Taylor Swift’s concert in Toronto on Friday night. Before Taylor Swift approached the stage, X shared a viral video of him dancing and singing along to the song “You Don’t Own Me.”
The image of Trudeau dancing amid violent protests in Montreal generated widespread indignation online. Some social media users even compared Trudeau to the ancient Roman dictator Nero, known for “fiddling while Rome burned.”
Don Stewart, a Member of Parliament (MP) representing part of Toronto, called out the prime minister in a post on X.
Lawless protestors run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest.
The Prime Minister dances.
This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.
Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved. pic.twitter.com/PVJvR6gtmf
— Don Stewart (@donstewartmp) November 23, 2024
“Lawless protesters run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest. The Prime Minister dances,” Stewart wrote. “This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.”
“Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved,” the MP added.
On Saturday, the day after Taylor Swift’s concert, Trudeau condemned the anti-NATO protests, calling them “appalling.”
Anti-NATO activists set off smoke bombs and marched through Montreal’s streets waving Palestinian flags. According to the Montreal Gazette, rioters set fire to automobiles and battled with police.
Pro-Palestinian protests
Protesters also tossed tiny explosives and metal objects at officers. At one point, the mob torched an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Police used tear gas and batons to disperse the gathering, and three persons were arrested for attacking officers and impeding police operations.
Masked protesters were seen burning flares and bashing storefront windows in videos and photographs shared on social media. Pro-Palestinian protests have been taking place across Canada since the Israel-Gaza conflict began late last year.
Critics have lambasted Trudeau for doing nothing to stop the violent pro-Palestinian marches, with some claiming he has fueled anti-Israel sentiment in Canada.
On Friday, Trudeau stated that Canada would respect the orders of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which issued an arrest warrant for Mr Netanyahu, even if it meant arresting the Israeli prime leader on Canadian soil.
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News
Calgary Zoo Admits Human Error in Death of Baby Gorilla
The Calgary Zoo has admitted in a public statement that a zookeeper’s negligence caused the death of a 2-year-old baby gorilla. Eyare, a newborn gorilla, died last week after being slammed in the head by a hydraulic door.
The accident occurred when a zoo worker attempted to separate Eyare from the rest of the gorilla tribe for a solitary training session.
The gorilla died from significant head injuries, according to the zoo’s statement.
“This tragedy has struck us all in the deepest way imaginable,” Colleen Baird, director of animal care at the Calgary Zoo, said during a news conference. “Eyare’s brief but meaningful existence gave so much joy to our community, and all will sorely miss her. We will do everything possible to prevent repeat accidents.”
According to Baird, the staff member involved was immediately removed from the workplace and will be reassigned to another area of the zoo. The Calgary Zoo stated that it would take preventive steps, such as specialist personnel training and animal behavioral training, to avoid a similar incident.
Calgary Zoo Questioned
It is not the first time an animal at the zoo has died from negligence at the Calgary Zoo. A capybara was accidentally crushed by a hydraulic door similar to the one that killed Eyare in 2019.
An otter died in 2016 after being entangled in an “unauthorized” pair of jeans that a zookeeper had dropped in its enclosure. In 2013, a penguin died in “a freak accident” after swallowing a stick.
Animal Justice, a Canadian group that promotes animal welfare, has called for an independent investigation of animal safety and oversight at the Alberta facility.
“The Calgary Zoo appears to have a higher rate of animal deaths compared to other zoos, and in light of Eyare’s death there should be a systematic review of the zoo’s operations and practices, conducted transparently by the government or another outside party,” according to Camille Labchuk, the executive director of Animal Justice.
The Calgary Zoo refuted that it has more animal deaths than other zoos, emphasizing that it adheres to operating requirements and has maintained accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ independent Accreditation Commission since 1978.
“We love and care for more than 4,000 animals representing over 100 species that call our zoo home,” stated a Calgary Zoo representative.
“Human error-related deaths in animals are quite infrequent. We have lost two animals in the last ten years: a North American river otter in 2016 and ‘Eyare’ this week.
While rare, even one human-caused death is too many. These unfortunate instances have served as vital learning experiences, prompting us to examine and tighten protocols to provide the greatest level of care.”
Baird said at the news conference that using hydraulic doors is “common practice with accredited zoos,” adding that the facility will consider switching to alternate doors to improve safety.
The Calgary Zoo, which established the Wilder Institute in 2021, caters to nearly 4,000 creatures, including six more western lowland gorillas.
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News
Canada’s Lotto Max Jackpot Climbs to $80M
Lotto Max in Canada has reached $80 million for only the second time in Canadian lottery history. Friday’s draw sought a winner for a $75 million pool, but the top reward remained unclaimed as of Saturday, increasing the jackpot.
Only once did the jackpot reach $80 million in September, when it broke the previous record. Before that, the prize was $75 million, a record.
The Lotto Max prize maximum was boosted earlier this year, enabling for jackpots of more than $70 million. The cap is now at $80 million.
While a greater fee may encourage more people to play, the odds of winning the lottery remain extremely low.
According to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, the odds for a $5 ticket are around one in 33,294,800.
While there was no jackpot winner in Friday’s draw, someone did match six of the seven winning numbers, plus a bonus, earning them a payout of more than $320,000.
Lotto Max History
Lotto Max is one of three national lottery games in Canada, overseen by the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation. The game was introduced on September 19, 2009, and its inaugural draw occurred on September 25, 2009. It replaced Lotto Super 7.
The odds of winning the Lotto Max are 1 in 33,294,800. This is correct to a point but misleading.
Let’s have a look at the rules:
- Players choose 7 numbers out of 50
- Numbers cannot be repeated
- Numbers are automatically sorted into ascending order
- Each play buys 3 lines
- Each play costs $5
Seeing that players choose 7 out of 50 non-repeating numbers, the equation for the total number of possible combinations (this is different from permutations where the order in which the numbers appear is significant) when playing the Lotto Max is 50! / (7! x 43!)
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