Churchill Downs announced Friday that after this weekend, racing will be suspended until July 3 after an unusually high number of horse deaths at the track.
Twelve horses have died at the track since April 27.
«The Churchill Downs team takes pride in our commitment to safety and strives to set the highest standard in racing, going above and beyond required rules and policies,» said Bill Carstanjen, CEO of Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI). ). .
«What happened at our track is deeply disturbing and absolutely unacceptable. Despite our best efforts to identify the cause of the recent injuries to the horses, and although no issues have been linked to our racing surfaces or the environment at Churchill Downs We need to take more action.» It is time for a top-to-bottom review of all the details and circumstances so that we can further strengthen our surface, safety and integrity protocols.»
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Churchill Downs before the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 6, 2023 in Louisville, Ky. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Horse racing officials held an emergency summit Tuesday to discuss the deaths at the track. Track officials also spoke with jockeys at the Trackside Training Center in Louisville on Thursday in a meeting that resulted in a series of changes that will take effect immediately. The 12 deaths will be investigated and track conditions will be investigated.
At this point, however, «no single factor has been identified as a potential cause, and no discernible pattern linking the deaths has been detected,» Churchill Downs said in a statement on Friday.
«Expert diagnostic tests of the race track did not raise concerns, and the experts concluded that the surface is consistent with previous Churchill Downs measurements in recent years.»
Spring meet operations, which were scheduled to begin at the track next week, will move to Ellis Park in Henderson, Kentucky, beginning Saturday, June 10, «to conduct a top-to-bottom review of all security and surface protocols». and integrity measures in collaboration and consultation with experts at the national level,» CDI said.
Roses in the winner’s circle with Twin Spiers in the background before the 148th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 7, 2022, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. (Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
«In addition to our commitment to providing the safest racing environment for our participants, we have an immense responsibility as the economic engine of the Kentucky Thoroughbred industry, which provides jobs and income for thousands of families every day,» Carstanjen added. .
«By moving the rest of the competition to Ellis Park, we are able to maintain this industry ecosystem with only minor disruption. We are grateful to the Kentucky jockeys for their continued support, resilience and partnership as we collectively work to find answers during this time. «
CHURCHILL DOWNS ANNOUNCES NEW SAFETY INITIATIVES IN RESPONSE TO ‘UNUSUALLY HIGH’ HORSE DEATHS
The most recent death on the track occurred on Saturday when Kimberley Dream, running in her 61st start, was euthanized after stopping in the upper stretch. She was running in the first race on Saturday at the famous racetrack. Her death came less than 24 hours after Lost in Limbo fell to the ground during the seventh race at the track on Friday and was unable to get up.
The view before the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 6, 2023 in Louisville, Ky. (Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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In her last five races, the Kimberley Dream had lost by 19, 32½, 14½, 31 and 33 lengths, the Los Angeles Times noted.
From April 27 through the Kentucky Derby on May 6, seven horses died from injuries or crashed on the track. Two of those horses died on the undercard of the Derby, and another, Wild on Ice, was supposed to enter the race. that was won by wizard. Five have died after races at the track since then.
More than 30 horses died in 2019 at the Santa Anita racetrack in California. The track closed racing when the death toll reached 21 and renewed its safety protocols. Since then, horse deaths have decreased by 55% in the state.