KY - 4 horses die at Churchill Downs in the days leading up to Kentucky Derby - 3 May 2023

[BetteDavisEyes]

Churchill Downs, home of Kentucky Derby, suspends racing after 12 horses die

The dozen horses died in the month of May at the track. The rest of the Spring Meet schedule will take place at Ellis Park as safety measures are examined.

www.nbcnews.com

Churchill Downs announced it is suspending all racing as safety measures are re-examined following the deaths of a dozen horses at the famed track in the past month.

The track's parent company, Churchill Downs Incorporated, said in a statement Friday that the remainder of its Spring Meet would be moved to another Kentucky venue it owns, Ellis Park Racing & Gaming in Henderson. The season ends July 3...

 

[Catmommy]

My apologies if this is not an endorsed site but according to "Horseracing Wrongs" which lists thoroughbred deaths at each track annually, for 2023 so far:
Kentucky
Churchill Downs: 12 dead racehorses
Ellis Park:
Keeneland: 3 dead racehorses
Kentucky Downs:
Turfway Park: 6 dead racehorses

They also list all the other deaths at all the other tracks in all the other states. They list the racehorses by name, as well, along with the injury that killed them and the track where it happened.

This does not take into consideration the horses who die at private training stables. And they do die there.

Will changing tracks change the number of horses that die?

IMO this is an industry problem not a location one.

 

[sds71]

First 'mortality reviews' shed little light on recent Churchill Downs horse deaths

The reviews are for just two of the dozen equine fatalities at Churchill since April 27, and are posted publicly by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.

www.wdrb.com

 

[ilovewings]

First 'mortality reviews' shed little light on recent Churchill Downs horse deaths

The reviews are for just two of the dozen equine fatalities at Churchill since April 27, and are posted publicly by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.

www.wdrb.com

Can UC Davis prevent racehorses from dying? - The Aggie

UC Davis researchers strive to understand “hugely problematic” catastrophic injuries in racehorses By MARGO ROSENBAUM — features@theaggie.org With bottles

theaggie.org

This is a very long article, very comprehensive, about race horse deaths and injuries. It is the best article I have found. I love horse racing.- but when horses break down and have to be euthanized I wind up crying my eyes out. It is so sad and as this article points out, many of these injuries could be prevented ( not all). I continue to follow horse racing because I love to watch these majestic animals, manes flying -they are athletes after all and they are wonderful to watch. There are times however, for example when Barbaro broke down, that I thought I would not watch anymore, but I always come back to it. I do not believe that horse racing should be eliminated as has been postulated by PETA and horse wrongs. Think of the great horse athletes that have been beloved by people including Secretariat and Man O War.

 

[ilovewings]

Why do race horses keep dying? Inside the sport's push to solve a formidable problem

The size of a race horse and its natural instincts make it nearly impossible to survive serious injuries at the track, but many are trying to improve the odds.

www.latimes.com

 

[GoBuckeyes]

While I understand that the derby is a tradition…I still find it inhumane. (Yes I’m one of those.haha) MOO. Can’t these horses be rehabilitated and sent to a sanctuary? I know they will never race again but racing isn’t why they are here on this planet. I’ve never been in to the KD so I guess I just don’t understand the appeal and it doesn’t seem worth all this.

I realize it would require amputation above the break, but it does seem that they should be able to live out their days at a sanctuary. They can walk on 3 legs.

 

[ilovewings]

I realize it would require amputation above the break, but it does seem that they should be able to live out their days at a sanctuary. They can walk on 3 legs.

I don't believe a horse can really function on three legs: they have too much body weight. Cats and dogs are different- they can function fine on three legs but they are so much smaller. I believe there are a few horses that have had prosthetic legs made for them. I will see if I can find a story about that.

Equine Prosthetics: "There is life after the leg comes off"

There is a theme of reinvention running through Ian Gould's cephalopod-like business ventures. His UK-based research and development company is looking to revolutionize the way electric vehicle batteries are re-processed, for example, and wants to recycle carbon fiber composite materials...

www.thoroughbreddailynews.com

 

[sds71]

The latest death is the fourth at Belmont Park during the spring-summer meet that began on May 4. A total of 1,670 horses have started in 214 races, McKenna said.

Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, suspended racing operations and moved its meet to Ellis Park in the wake of 12 horse fatalities over the past month. At Baltimore’s Pimlico, National Treasure’s Preakness victory was preceded by the death of another horse trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert.

Another horse dies at Belmont Park, 2nd fatality since Belmont Stakes

It’s the second fatality in 24 hours, according to officials.

www.nxsttv.com