Racing suspended at home of Kentucky Derby after deaths of 12 horses

03 June 2023 , 09:35

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There have been 12 horse fatalities at the home of the Kentucky Derby since March (Image: Getty Images)

The home of the Kentucky Derby has been forced to suspend racing after an alarming spate of horse fatalities.

Churchill Downs cancelled all remaining fixtures of the track’s Spring meet, scheduled from June 7 until July 7 but will go ahead with racing over the June 3 and 4 weekend.

The rest of the track’s fixtures will be transferred to another Kentucky track at Ellis Park.

Since Churchill Downs opened for training in March there have been 12 horse deaths, particularly during the lead-up to the Kentucky Derby.

Matters were brought to a head on Tuesday when the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority [HISA] called an emergency summit with vets to look into the causes.

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No single factor was identified for the fatalities nor were any issues raised with the safety of the track.

Nevertheless HISA recommended a suspension of racing while “a top-to-bottom review” takes place.

Churchill Downs CEO Bill Carstanjen said: “What has happened at our track is deeply upsetting and absolutely unacceptable.

“Despite our best efforts to identify a cause for the recent horse injuries, and though no issues have been linked to our racing surfaces or environment at Churchill Downs, we need to take more time to conduct a top-to-bottom review of all of the details and circumstances so that we can further strengthen our surface, safety and integrity protocols.”

HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus said: “HISA’s highest priority is the safety and wellbeing of equine and human athletes competing under our jurisdiction.

“Given that we have been so far unable to draw conclusions about the cause of the recent equine fatalities at Churchill Downs, and therefore have been unable to recommend or require interventions that we felt would adequately ensure the safety of the horses running there, we made the decision to recommend to CDI that they temporarily suspend racing at Churchill Downs while additional reviews continue.”

Jon Lees