After at least a dozen horse deaths at Churchill Downs As of April 27, the track announced it would be suspending the spring race starting June 7 and moving the race date of the race to Ellis . Park starting June 10. The ongoing meeting at Churchill Downs has been scheduled to last until July 3.
Traditionally, Ellis Park hosts a summer race in Kentucky after the Churchill spring-summer meeting, which usually begins in early July and runs through late August or early September.
The move comes after the Kentucky Equestrian Commission and the Equestrian Integrity and Safety Authority conducted reviews and investigations and found no single factor as a potential cause and no pattern. any clear pattern associated with the deaths. However, the track announced in a release that “out of an abundance of caution and in line with recommendations from HISA” it will “relocate the meeting to conduct a top-down review of all safety protocols and surfaces as well as integrity measures in collaboration and consultation with local experts.”
A statement from HISA said it had recommended to Churchill Downs Incorporated that racing at Churchill Downs be temporarily suspended to allow for additional comprehensive investigations into the cause of recent horse deaths at the track. CDI has agreed and accepted this recommendation, HISA added.
“The team at Churchill Downs is very proud of our commitment to safety and strives to set the highest standards in racing, always going above regulations and mandatory policies,” said Chief Executive Officer. CDI executive Bill Carstanjen said in a statement. “What has happened at our racetrack is extremely upsetting and completely unacceptable. Although we have made every effort to determine the cause of recent horse injuries and although there were no issues related to our racing surface or environment at Churchill Downs, we needed to do more it was time to conduct a top-down review of all the details and circumstances so that we can further strengthen our surface, safety, and integrity protocols.”
Carstanjen continued: “In addition to our commitment to providing the safest racing environment for our participants, we also have a great responsibility as the economic engine of the Thoroughbred industry in Kentucky, which brings jobs and income for thousands of families every day”. “By moving the remainder of the meeting to Ellis Park, we were able to sustain this industry ecosystem with only one minor disruption. We are grateful to the Kentucky Riders for their support, ability, and support. recovery and their continued collaboration as we work together to find answers during this time.”
Such changes to race dates need to be approved by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. A spokesman for the regulator said the KHRC approved the request on Friday.
Kristin Voskuhl on behalf of KHRC said: “Today, Churchill Downs asked to voluntarily move their operations to Ellis Park for the remainder of their spring meeting. “Out of an abundance of caution for the safety of all race participants, KHRC has approved this move. KHRC is working closely with Churchill Downs and the Horse Racing Integrity & Safety Authority (HISA) ) to continue investigating recent horse deaths.”
At release, the track did not state why it chose to race through the weekend, nor did it immediately announce the wallet and stakes program for Ellis Park.
“Even as an owner who just ran a horse at Churchill Downs and hopes/believes the track can be fine, I absolutely cannot support running this weekend after the decision to move has been made public. declare,” owner Justin Nicholson tweeted in response to plans for the June 3-4 scheduled race. “Take advantage of the worst and call the weekend away please.”
The track has multiple stake races scheduled for Saturday.
Churchill Downs Inc. bought Ellis Park last year for $79 million. The Henderson, Ky., track traditionally operates during the summer for smaller sums than those offered at Churchill Downs, although its amount has been raised from calendar horse racing game revenue. history and wallet funds transferred there from even more profitable HHR game tracks.
Attendance and betting odds at Ellis Park are generally much lower than at Churchill Downs.
Ellis and Churchill employ some of the same individuals in their racing division, although other seasonal employees at Churchill Downs may be affected by the company’s shutdown, such as those attending into customer service positions.
Earlier this week, during a teleconference conference, HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus said she would not take lightly the decision to possibly suspend racing, while also referring to individuals who make a living off of racing. this sport.
“HISA’s highest priority is the safety and health of the equine athletes and those competing under our jurisdiction,” she said in a statement Friday. “We have been unable to draw conclusions so far as to the cause of the recent horse deaths at Churchill Downs, and therefore cannot recommend or require interventions that we feel will be warranted. for the safety of the horses running there, we have made the decision to recommend to CDI that they temporarily halt the race at Churchill Downs while additional assessments continue. working with those involved to ensure that the horses will again run safely at Churchill Downs in the near future.”
The high number of horse-related deaths this spring at Churchill prompted veterinarians from HISA, Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Equestrian Commission to convene a veterinary summit this week. and has an independent track assessment completed by West Coast track director Dennis Moore.
The track and HISA announced the changes on June 1 for safety changes to improve horse safety. Churchill’s safety initiatives will remain in effect for the remainder of this meeting in Ellis Park.
The deaths at Churchill Downs occurred on dirt roads and grass courts, during races and during training. An accident happened in the yard. At least three of the equine deaths were not due to failure—lawn accidents and two sudden deaths during or shortly after grass races.
The Churchill Downs death toll is still likely to rise in the coming weeks even though the current meeting has moved to Ellis Park, due to the many horses stable at Louisville, Ky., tracking and training there. The track is one of the most popular training facilities used by horsemen. Traditionally during the summer months, many riders choose to stay to train their horses at Churchill Downs before driving them for about two hours to race at Ellis Park in the northwest of the state.
During a June 1 meeting between cavalry and track officials, riders expressed concern about boulders found this spring on the surface of the main Churchill Downs track. Churchill Downs officials informed them they were addressing those concerns.
Churchill Downs Churchill Downs Inc. Ellis Park HE horse death horse safety Horseracing's Safety and Integrity Authority Jeff Barkley Justin Nicholson Kentucky Liza Lazarus manufacturer mike Neil Pessin Purebred racing Rick Hiles
