The Kentucky Derby is being overshadowed by the death of four horses at Churchill Downs as the track prepares for the first jewel of the Triple Crown on Saturday.
The track has opened an investigation into the tragic circumstances.
“While a series of events like this is highly unusual, it is completely unacceptable,” the track said in a statement.
“We take this very seriously and acknowledge that these troubling incidents are alarming and must be addressed. We feel a tremendous responsibility to our fans, the participants in our sport and the entire industry to be a leader in safety and continue to make significant investments to eliminate risk to our athletes. We have full confidence in our racing surfaces and have been assured by our riders and horsemen that they do as well.”
Kentucky Derby entrant Wild on Ice and D. Wayne Lukas’ horse, Take Charge Briana, both died of musculoskeletal injuries during training or racing and each was transported to Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital for assessment before being euthanized.
Meanwhile, two horses trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. collapsed on the track and died.
The cause of death for 4-year-old Parents Pride, who died after a race Saturday, and 5-year-old Chasing Artie, who died after a race Tuesday, remains unknown.
Joseph’s horse Lord Miles is in the 20-horse field for the Kentucky Derby and is currently listed at 30-1.
Joseph said he was “shattered” by the tragedies and is unsure if he will keep the horse in the race.
“When you don’t know something, that’s when it worries you the most,” Joseph told reporters on Wednesday, according to the AP. “Something is wrong. A lot of thoughts run through your head, but you can drive yourself insane. But I’m very uneasy right now. It’s not something I would wish on anybody.”
Lisa Lazarus, CEO of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, said in a statement sent to The Associated Press that the welfare of horses and riders is paramount.
“When horses die unexpectedly, we all suffer, but we take comfort in the tools and practices we have collectively developed to investigate contributing factors and deploy those learnings to minimize future risk,” Lazarus said, adding the organization is in contact with the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and Churchill Downs. “HISA also intends to conduct its own in-depth analysis of the fatalities and will share those findings once the full investigation is complete.”
The deaths brought back unpleasant memories of 2019 when 42 horses died at Santa Anita Park in California before reforms were instituted.
California and New York, which hosts the Belmont Stakes, each have thorough reporting requirements and a database cataloging equine injuries and fatalities, while Kentucky does not.
The Kentucky Derby is set to run Saturday with Forte the 3-1 betting favorite.
— With AP