A horse ambulance arrives at Churchill Downs during Saturday’s Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Ky.
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A horse ambulance arrives at Churchill Downs during Saturday’s Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Ky.
Image of Michael Reaves/Getty
The 149th Kentucky Derby may be over, but the question of what led to a string of horse deaths on its famous track has just begun.
Over the past week, a total of seven horses have died before Saturday’s final race – prompting an investigation into the deaths and sparking outrage from animal rights activists.
The worrying death toll at Churchill Downs, home of Kentucky horse racing, is the latest scandal to hit the equestrian industry despite recent efforts to make this sport safer for animals.
Joseph Grove of Action for Animal Health said the death toll was alarming.
“As a native Louisvillian, I feel the passion people here and across the country have for this iconic race,” Grove said in a statement. “But taking care of the horses must be our top priority, and these mass deaths are astounding. Lamenting is not enough.”
Here are the things to know:
Four of the seven horses died after being injured
The first death occurred on April 29. Code of Kings, a 3-year-old castrated boy, repeatedly flipped and broke his neck before a race, his coach, Tim Glyshaw, said. Daily racing. Glyshaw added that his horse appeared to be fixed to a light at a nearby DJ booth before flipping over.
On Tuesday, a horse named Take Charge Briana was killed after being injured during a race. Two days later, another horse, Wild on Ice, also died from a training injury. Louisville Mass Media report.
Churchill Downs said two horses, Parent Pride and Chasing Artie, also died last week under mysterious circumstances. Their coach, Saffie Joseph Jr., has ban indefinitely for “sudden unexplained deaths.”
On Saturday, two more horses, Chloe’s Dream and Freezing Point, were killed after sustaining seemingly irreversible race injuries.
Coach Jeff Hiles said Chloe’s Dream, who competed in the second race of the day, suffered a right front knee injury Related press. Coach Joe Lejzerowicz said Freezing Point’s left ankle was badly injured during the eighth race. AP.
Kentucky racing officials open death investigation
Churchill Downs describes each horse fatality as “unique” – adding that “no obvious signs were found in the wounds suffered.”
However, the team said it will work with the Kentucky Equestrian Commission and the Equestrian Integrity and Safety Authority to investigate the incidents and learn how to improve the sport’s safety.
“We will work seriously to understand what is causing these incidents,” Churchill Downs said in a statement. declare.
Kristin Voskuhl, a spokesman for the Cabinet of Public Defenders, which includes the Kentucky Equestrian Commission, said the University of Kentucky will conduct autopsies of the racehorses.
“The KHRC is committed to ensuring the health and safety of all horses and riders, and will follow robust investigation procedures into race integrity and safety issues,” Voskukl said. know in a statement, Louisville Public Media reported.
