05/27/23 07:25:00
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05/27 19:23 CDT 2 horses die from injuries at Churchill Downs, bringing total
to 12 at home of Kentucky Derby
2 horses die from injuries at Churchill Downs, bringing total to 12 at home of
Kentucky Derby
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) --- Two horses have died the past two days following
injuries at Churchill Downs, the 11th and 12th fatalities over the past month
at the home of the Kentucky Derby.
Mare Kimberley Dream was euthanized after sustaining a distal sesamodean
ligament rupture to her front leg during Saturday's first race. Lost in Limbo
was euthanized following a similar injury just before the finish line in
Friday's seventh race.
The track stated in a release that both injuries were "inoperable and
unrecoverable."
As team members mourn the loss of the animals, the statement added, the track
is working to determine cause and appropriate investments to minimize risk to
the sport and its property.
"We do not accept this as suitable or tolerable and share the frustrations of
the public, and in some cases, the questions to which we do not yet have
answers," the statement added. "We have been rigorously working since the
opening of the meet to understand what has led to this spike and have yet to
find a conclusive discernable pattern as we await the findings of ongoing
investigations into those injuries and fatalities."
Also, a Kentucky steward's repor t from May 13 lists the previously unreported
death of Bosque Redondo after finishing 10th in the seventh race. The report
did not state the injury, but the colt was transported to Lexington for
observation and eventually put down after a poor prognosis for recovery.
Churchill Downs' statement said it commissioned surface expert Mick Peterson to
perform additional tests on the track and that the data did not raise concerns.
The data is consistent with prior measurements from Churchill Downs or other
tracks, the statement added.
An epidemiological study with the Jockey Club is reviewing each horse to
determine undetected patterns not previously identified, the statement added.
"We are troubled by this recent string of fatalities," the statement said. "It
is extremely inconsistent with the outcomes we have experienced over the years,
with the reputation we have developed over the decades and with the
expectations we set for ourselves and owe our fans. We are committed to doing
this important work and updating the public with our developments."
Kimberley Dream and Lost in Limbo were both 7-year-old Kentucky breds with at
least 35 starts each.
Trained by Freddie Winston, Kimberley Dream was making her 61st start in the 1
1/16th mile claiming race. Jockey Jesus Castanon pulled her up passing the
3/16th pole and she was vanned off, Equibase race chart notes stated.
Lost in Limbo, a gelding trained by Michael Lauer, collapsed inside the final
1/16th and threw jockey Ricardo Santana Jr., the race chart noted. He was
vanned away.
The notes added that Lost in Limbo dropped his rider before the six-furlong
claiming race and ran loose before being gathered by an outrider. He was
remounted without incident and endured contact from horses on both sides at the
start from the No. 4 post, the chart noted.
Kimberley Dream was winless in four starts this year. She had seven wins, eight
seconds and six thirds with $174,372 in earnings. Lost in Limbo had two thirds
in four starts this year and five career, along with five wins and three
seconds. He earned $225,996 lifetime.
Seven horses died at Churchill Downs from training or racing injuries in the
week leading up to the 149th Kentucky Derby on May 6, starting with qualifier
Wild On Ice on April 27. Two were euthanized following injuries on the Derby
undercard, and two others died on May 14 and May 20.
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