Global Courant 2023-05-21 03:33:32
Bob Baffert, trainer of Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit, stands by the track at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, April 28, 2021.
Bryan Woolston| Reuters
A horse owned by Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert euthanized at Pimlico Race Course on the undercard of Saturday’s Preakness Stakes at Baltimore, giving the beleaguered sport another black eye.
Havnameltdown, a 4-5 favorite in the $200,000 Grade III Chick Lang Stakesbroke down and threw jockey Luis Saez at the top of the stretch.
“We’re just devastated,” Baffert said in a statement. This is a shock to everyone in our stable who loves and cares for these horses every day.”
Havnameltdown broke out of the inner stall and was bumped by No. 2 horse and eventual winner Ryvit, causing him to momentarily veer toward the rail.
“Havnameltdown obviously got hit pretty hard coming out of the gate,” added Baffert. “We don’t know if that contributed to the injury, but we will be completely transparent with those reviewing this terrible accident. At this point, our thoughts are with Luis Saez and we hope he will be okay.”
Hanvameltdown’s injury was catastrophic and nothing could be done for him, according to on-duty track vet Scott Hay. The horse was put down while still on the track.
“Unfortunately, Havnameltdown suffered an injury to his left front ankle that was so severe there was nothing they could do for him and he had to be humanely euthanized.” Hay told NBC Sports.
“The extent of the injury was so severe that it was probably in the horse’s best interest to simply euthanize at the time rather than try to load him onto an ambulance.”
The colt’s euthanasia comes in the wake of a string of horse deaths leading up to the Kentucky Derby earlier this month at Churchill Downs.
Eight horses died in just over a week at Louisville’s famed golf course, raising concerns about the sport’s treatment of its animals.
This is an evolving story. Check back later for updates.
