Horse death toll at Churchill Downs hits 12

For the second day in a row, and the 12th time since April 27, a horse is killed at Churchill Downs in Louisville.

Kimberley Dream, who was running in her 61st run, was sacrificed after stopping in the upper stretch. She was running in the first race on Saturday at the famous racetrack.

She suffered an «inoperable ligament tear in her left front leg,» the track announced.

His death comes 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.

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Video obtained by Fox News Digital PETA shows an ambulance approaching the horse, and employees put up a curtain to hide it, presumably so that doctors can euthanize it. He was 7 years old in his 35th race.

In her last five races, the Kimberley Dream had lost by 19, 32½, 14½, 31 and 33 lengths, the Los Angeles Times reports.

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.

«It is with absolute dismay and sadness that we report this highly unusual statistic,» Churchill Downs said in a statement Saturday. «Our team members mourn the loss of these animals as we continue to work together to discover a cause and determine the appropriate investments to minimize, to the extent possible, any avoidable risk to the sport and to our property.

«We do not accept this as appropriate or tolerable and we share the public’s frustrations and, in some cases, the questions for which we do not yet have answers. We have been working rigorously… to understand what has led to this spike and have yet to find a conclusion [discernible] pattern as we await the results of the ongoing investigations into these injuries and deaths.

Churchill Downs before the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 6, 2023 in Louisville, Ky. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

«As with any matter under investigation, justice or answers are not always quick, but a commitment to be thorough is incredibly important. We understand the justified desire for answers, but we also respect the process and authority of the Commission on Kentucky Horse Racing (KHRC) and the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) in managing these important investigations. We are actively working cooperatively with these regulatory authorities and share their goal to improve the safety of this sport.» .

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Coach Bob Baffert returned Saturday from his two-year suspension. He had been banned from the sport following a positive drug test for original 2021 Derby winner Medina Spirit. The horse was disqualified from the race and he died that december.

Upon his return, one of his horses was killed during the undercard of the Preakness Stakes.

Havnameltdown suffered an «inoperable left front fenugreek» lesion in pimlicoand the doctors made the decision to sacrifice the horse.

Mage, left, ridden by jockey Javier Castellano, takes the outside of turn four during the 149th race of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 6, 2023 in Louisville, Ky. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

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PETA previously called Churchill Downs a «death camp» and called for the Baffert ban before the Preakness.

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.

Churchill Downs said it is «focused on our responsibility to provide the safest possible racing environment on our property» in recent weeks.

“We simply will not allow these equine deaths to be in vain…” the clue added. «We are committed to doing this important work and updating the public with our developments.»