BleedGopher
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Per Axios Sports:
Five horses have died at Churchill Downs in the past week, mere days before the historic racetrack hosts the Kentucky Derby, Axios' Jeff Tracy writes.
Why it matters: The deaths are a tragic reminder that even amid horse racing's recent and long-overdue reform, major issues remain regarding animal welfare.
Driving the news: Churchill Downs suspended trainer Saffie Joseph on Thursday after two of his horses ā Chasing Artie and Parents Pride ā collapsed and later died after races at the venue's spring meet earlier in the week. The venue also scratched Derby entrant Lord Miles, another horse saddled by Joseph.
What they're saying: "It shatters me," Joseph told SI earlier this week. "The odds of that happening twice, it doesn't add up. Theories aren't going to help anything. We need facts."
Go Gophers!!
Five horses have died at Churchill Downs in the past week, mere days before the historic racetrack hosts the Kentucky Derby, Axios' Jeff Tracy writes.
Why it matters: The deaths are a tragic reminder that even amid horse racing's recent and long-overdue reform, major issues remain regarding animal welfare.
Driving the news: Churchill Downs suspended trainer Saffie Joseph on Thursday after two of his horses ā Chasing Artie and Parents Pride ā collapsed and later died after races at the venue's spring meet earlier in the week. The venue also scratched Derby entrant Lord Miles, another horse saddled by Joseph.
- Derby entrant Wild on Ice was euthanized after suffering a catastrophic injury following a workout last Thursday, Take Charge Briana was euthanized after suffering a similar injury in a race on Tuesday and Code of Kings was euthanized after breaking his neck in a saddling paddock on Saturday.
- These deaths come just weeks after three other horses were euthanized following injuries at Keeneland's spring meet in nearby Lexington.
What they're saying: "It shatters me," Joseph told SI earlier this week. "The odds of that happening twice, it doesn't add up. Theories aren't going to help anything. We need facts."
- Before his suspension, Joseph scratched seven horses who were stabled alongside Chasing Artie and Parents Pride, "[in case] there is something going on over there like contamination."
- Churchill Downs vowed to "continue to press for answers" and said it was working with regulators to conduct investigations.
- HISA introduced safety rules last summer and recently implemented a new anti-doping and medication control program. Yet here we are, one day before horse racing's main event, reporting on more horses dying.
- Meanwhile, renowned trainer Bob Baffert is missing his second straight Derby as he serves a two-year suspension for positive drug tests. One of those came from 2021 Derby winner Medina Spirit, who died seven months later after a workout and whose Derby win was stripped.
Go Gophers!!
