Churchill Downs investigates 4 horse deaths ahead of Derby

[demmiblue]

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The death of four horses at Churchill Downs over a span of five days has overshadowed preparations for the Kentucky Derby.

Two horses trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. collapsed on the track and died over the past week. Two other horses also died as either a result of racing or training, including Derby entrant Wild On Ice.

Joseph is set to saddle Lord Miles in the first jewel of the Triple Crown on Saturday. But he has said he’s unsure of plans after the two deaths from his barn.

Churchill Downs Racetrack, in a statement Wednesday, expressed concern over the deaths and said officials would press for answers.

https://apnews.com/article/kentucky-derby-horse-deaths-churchill-downs-ae115e68a43c45ba3b17d54ce973d4db

[leftyladyfrommo]

1. The competition is ferocious . Someone may be

Killing the competition.

I hate horse racing.

[meadowlander]

11. Or a bad batch of roids.

[Srkdqltr]

2. If I owned a horse of Derby quality I would not have it anywhere near that track.

[Beachnutt]

3. I didn't know trump was into horse racing...

[Karadeniz]

8. Someone gave him a race horse thinking he'd like it. The horse got sick, but Trump

made it race anyway. I think... not certain... he eventually sold it, asking for a lot of money. We should look up Trump's race horse.

[Tetrachloride]

4. Horses won't be buried down behind the church hill.

No cause of death mentioned. Curious. Nobody has a clue. Reporter phoned in the story from a bar because his car rammed a cement truck.

News at 4 am

[Srkdqltr]

5. Didn't this track have several horses die a few years ago?

I'm not into horse racing but if someone is eliminating the competition that's sick.

[leftieNanner]

6. Maybe. Maybe not

Horses shouldn't even be ridden until they are FOUR years old. These thoroughbreds are racing earlier than that. They often break down. And those animals that don't win are shoved on a truck for slaughter.

Hideous sport.

[barbtries]

9. you may be thinking about Santa Anita, in CA

https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/money-and-power/a29477565/horse-deaths-santa-anita-racetrack-stronach-family/

[Srkdqltr]

12. Ok. I stand corrected.

[montanacowboy]

7. Enough of this shit

Horses are being drugged

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

10. Google "Race horse deaths"

Some 2,000, yes TWO THOUSAND race horses are killed each and every year. Essentially, the gene pool for thoroughbreds is tiny.

Since the establishment of the Stud Book in 1791, the population has been effectively closed to outside sources, and over 80% of the thoroughbred population's gene pool derives from 31 known ancestors from this early period. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3357536/)

Not a good thing.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

13. Update today from Louisville Courier Journal...

At lesat two of the four were euphanised after suffering broken bones during training....

3 horses die at Churchill Downs: Take Charge Briana euthanized, Chasing Artie collapsed
Olivia Evans, Stephanie Kuzydym
Louisville Courier Journal
May 3, 2023

Link: https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/2023/05/03/churchill-downs-horse-deaths-4-horse-deaths-after-first-two-races/70178680007/

snips....

Mark Partridge, farm manager at Ramsey Farms in Nicholasville, confirmed Wednesday two of its horses died following races Saturday and Tuesday.C hasing Artie and Parents Pride, both owned by Ken Ramsey, trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., and ridden by Luis Saez, died following turf races at Churchill Downs.

The causes of death have not been confirmed pending necropsies, which Partridge said will take two to three weeks. Joseph said the turf, newly installed at Churchill Downs, was not at fault. The necropsies will be performed at the University of Kentucky Veterinary Diagnostics Lab, according to a statement from Churchill Downs. "Something’s not right. These horses, it wasn’t because of injury. They left the gate and didn’t even try and then dropped down. … Theories aren’t going to help. We need facts."

Joseph Jr. said both the Ramsey Farm horses had normal bloodwork and test results. The Ramsey Farm team plans to test feed, hay, supplements and other things that may have impacted the horses.Take Charge Briana, owned by Willis Horton Racing, was euthanized due to a "catastrophic injury," according to the Daily Racing Form, suffered during the fifth race on turf Tuesday.

The first of four deaths came Thursday when Kentucky Derby contender Wild On Ice was euthanized after injuring his left rear leg during morning training at Churchill Downs. The 3-year-old horse was evaluated at the track before being transported to an equine surgery specialty facility in Lexington. Churchill Downs statement said both Wild On Ice and Take Charge Briana suffered musculoskeletal injuries and "were ultimately euthanized for humane reasons."

My son went to the track today but I've not talked to him yet regarding any chatter going around Churchill.

RIP to these majestic animals and apologies to the species for our savage, primitive behavior.

KY............ ........ .........