Global Courant 2023-05-28 05:49:53
For the second day in a row, and the 12th time since April 27, a horse has died at Churchill Downs in Louisville.
Kimberley Dream, competing in her 61st race, was euthanized after she retired in the top stretch. She drove in the first race of the day at the famous circuit on Saturday.
She suffered an “inoperable … ligament rupture on her left front leg,” the track announced.
Her death comes less than 24 hours after Lost in Limbo tumbled into the mud during the track’s seventh race on Friday and was unable to get up.
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The 149th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 6, 2023 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Video obtained by Fox News Digital from PETA shows an ambulance driving to the horse and workers putting up a curtain to hide him, presumably so doctors could put him to sleep. He was 7 years old in his 35th race.
In her last five races Kimberley had lost Dream by 19, 32½, 14½, 31 and 33 lengths, notes the Los Angeles Times.
From April 27 to the Kentucky Derby on May 6, seven horses died from injuries or collapses on the track. Two of those horses died in the Derby undercard, and another, Wild on Ice, would enter the race won by Mage. Since then, five have died following runs on the track.
“It is with absolute dismay and sadness that we report this highly unusual statistic,” Churchill Downs said in a statement Saturday. “Our team members mourn the loss of these animals as we continue to work together to discover a cause and determine appropriate investments to minimize any avoidable risk in this sport and our field.
“We do not accept this as appropriate or acceptable and share the public’s frustrations and, in some cases, the questions that we do not yet have answers to. We have worked rigorously to understand what led to this spike and have yet to come to a conclusive (observable) pattern as we await the findings of ongoing investigations into these injuries and fatalities.
Churchill Downs ahead of the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 6, 2023 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
“As with any case under investigation, justice or answers are not always swift, but the commitment to being thorough is incredibly important. We understand the legitimate desire for answers, but also respect the process and authority of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) and the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) in managing these important investigations. We are actively working with these regulatory authorities and share their goal to improve the safety of this sport.”
KENTUCKY DERBY WINNING HORSE FUSAICHI PEGASUS DEAD AT 26
Trainer Bob Baffert returned from his two-year suspension on Saturday. He was banned from the sport after a positive drug test for original 2021 Derby winner Medina Spirit. The horse was disqualified from the race and died in December.
On his return, one of his horses died on the Preakness Stakes undercard.
Havnameltdown suffered an “inoperable left front fetlock” injury to Pimlico, and doctors made the decision to lay the horse down.
Mage, left, ridden by jockey Javier Castellano takes the outside of turn four during the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 6, 2023 in Louisville, Ky. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
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PETA previously called Churchill Downs a “killing field” and called for Baffert to be banned ahead of the Preakness.
In 2019, more than 30 horses died at the Santa Anita track in California. The track stopped racing when tolls reached 21 and updated safety protocols. Since then, the number of horse fatalities in the state has decreased by 55%.
Churchill Downs said in recent weeks that it was “focused on our responsibility to provide the safest possible racing environment on our property”.
“We just won’t allow these horse deaths to be in vain…” the track added. “We are committed to doing this important work and keeping the public informed of our developments.”
