In a statement released Monday, a national advocacy group for animal rights demanded horse racetracks and trainers be held accountable for horse deaths related to Triple Crown races, including Churchill Downs.
Animal Wellness Action singled out trainers Mark Hennig and Bob Baffert. Hennig had two horses die at Belmont Park.
“If the Horseracing Safety and Integrity Authority does not start punishing trainers after their horses die in competition, we are going to continue to see countless numbers of dead horses vanned off of America’s racetracks,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy, in a statement.
“The trainers have the most control of the horses and they must assume responsibility when young, healthy horses die in competition. We should not accept that it’s part of the business of racing for hundreds of horses to die every year in American racing. Trainers who lose horses should face mandatory suspensions.”
How many horses died at Churchill Downs?
In total, 15 horses were euthanized due to race-related injuries in races surrounding the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes at Churchill Downs, Pimlico Race Course and Belmont Park, respectively.
Churchill Downs, the most famous and visible venue in the Kentucky horse racing world, fared the worst, with 12 of those 15 deaths. As a result, the Louisville racetrack has suspended its racing operations and moved its live racing to Ellis Park in Henderson, just south of the Indiana border.
“I am in total shock by all of the deaths that have occurred in this year’s Triple Crown race cards,” said Freddie Hudson, head of the US Harness Racing Alumni Association, said in a statement.
“I think an investigation of each and every trainer that lost a horse should be conducted especially the three trainers that have had two horses die within days of each other. If they find any questionable substances or devices in their possession, they should immediately be suspended and face a lifetime ban from the industry.”
When racing will return to Churchill Downs from Ellis Park
Racing will return to Churchill Downs after a series of safety measures implemented by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission are complete. Those measures are:
- Adding a post-entry screening of pre-race inspection findings in hopes of identifying horses at greater risk of injury.
- Having an independent superintendent review the Churchill Downs track surface.
In addition to those measures, Churchill Downs is adding policies to incentivize jockeys, trainers and owners to put a higher premium on horse safety. Those policies are:
- Temporarily stop giving trainer start bonuses and purse payout allocations to every participant.
- New ineligibility standards for poor performances.
- Just four starts allowed per horse in a rolling eight-week timeframe.
