Two more horses euthanized at Churchill Downs; death total at 7 before Kentucky Derby

[riversedge]

Source: www.wftv.com



By Bob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
May 06, 2023 at 5:13 pm EDT


LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Two more horses were euthanized during the lead-up to Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, raising the death toll to seven, officials said.

Freezing Point suffered a left ankle injury in the Pat Day Mile race on Saturday at Churchill Downs and was euthanized, trainer Joe Lejzerowicz told The Associated Press. He said that Fort Bragg, who finished third, drifted over and slammed into Freezing Point during the race.





............The death of Chloe’s Dream comes after five other horses died during a nine-day span, the Courier Journal reported. One died in the paddock area, one during a race on the turf track, two after turf races and one after a morning training session on the dirt track..............



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“He just got bumped in the backstretch,” Lejzerowicz said. “He never took a bad step or bobble. He had a big heart.”


Earlier, Chloe’s Dream, a 3-year-old gelding, was put down Saturday’s second race at Churchill Downs due to a right front knee injury, the Louisville Courier Journal reported.

The incident came hours before the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby at the famed track.

Jockey Corey Lanerie was rounding the first turn 23 seconds into the race when Chloe’s Dream pulled up, according to the newspaper.

The horse was taken off in an equine ambulance, trainer Jeff Hiles confirmed to The Associated Press.

“He just took a bad step out there,” Hiles said. “They could do the same thing running in the field as they could on the track. So it’s very unfortunate. That’s what we deal with.”

Read more: https://www.wftv.com/news/trending/sixth-horse-euthanized-churchill-downs-race-prior-149th-kentucky-derby/6ALN7ZOQKVECTBNO2VLEKW72BA/

[Layzeebeaver]

1. it's the 21st century...Horses? what's the point?

you can't eat them or milk them.

Ok that was humour...

[rampartc]

2. note to tinker dill

as long as space remains the domain of capitalist billionaires rockets will continue to be shaped like vibrators.

[Layzeebeaver]

24. Well stated!

[Haggard Celine]

3. There are many places in the world

where horse flesh is served up just like we do with beef, pork, lamb, etc. I hear that donkeys are particularly flavorful. I'd never thought about what that would taste like. So I guess we'll have to wait a little longer if we're going to get the optimal results.

[LittleGirl]

4. In Switzerland, even ALDI's carries

Horse meat and donkey meat.

[rubbersole]

6. Could explain a lot about the mystery meat 🍖 I got at our Aldi...

The dogs enjoyed it.

[LittleGirl]

9. Lol nt

[Layzeebeaver]

26. Well... that make it all ok then

Again just humor….

A lot of folks love horse. Either eating them or riding them. Let them each have their fun. As long as the horse enjoys it.

Me? Meh… I don’t get it.

[Crazyleftie]

10. I was at a restaurant in southern switzerland a few years ago

the special of the day was "American Ass"..........lmfao....

[hamsterjill]

14. This is not "other places"

I’m sorry but this is one instance where I draw the line. This is America and one of the few remaining things that should be kept sacred.

Horses are very intelligent, spiritual creatures that have a place in America’s history.

If you think that sounds like a Republican, you are dead wrong. I can still have pride in my country and be a Democrat.

[Layzeebeaver]

25. So let's not eat them or milk by them.

But should we be breeding them for sport?

[hamsterjill]

27. We don't eat dogs and cats in America either.

Some countries do. I just think there has to be a line in the sand somewhere. Or what? Just kill everything because mankind can?

SMH…

[Layzeebeaver]

28. interesting thought

but which culture gets blessed with drawing that line?

[AZ8theist]

5. It's a rough sport....

Human athletes can recover from broken ankles. They may not ever play again, but they will survive.

Horses, not so much. 1200 pounds supported by very small lower leg structures. It's amazing they even function at all.

Evolution.

I'm not saying it's right, but it's the current reality. Of course, on the human side of the equation, it's all about the money.

[rubbersole]

7. These horses are insured...

...and it's definitely the money.

[AZ8theist]

8. I'm insured too.

But it only pays out after I'm dead. And I don't benefit.

[localroger]

11. We're responsible. We bred them that way.

Natural evolution would have favored surviveability, but we wanted horses that could win races.

[IA8IT]

13. Yes Humans are the problem. Poor Horses Bred to go fast not to last

[Bayard]

18. They were always going to have this anatomy

Horses evolved as prey animals, eventually living on the plains. They had to be able to outrun their predators.

However, as a native Louisvillian who has actually been to the Derby, and loves the tradition, I fault the horses' age. They start racing at three year old. That means they start training months before that, sometimes before their joints even finish closing. You usually don't start training a horse until they are 3. Horses generally don't finish maturing physically until around 5 years.

Horses were born to run.

[AZ8theist]

22. Many thoroughbreds start racing at 2 years

[csziggy]

23. Plus, most of a horse's weight is carried on their front legs

If it is a serious front leg injury, it can't be treated. Another note - the horses are often geldings - neutered males - whose only function is to race. Financially, few people can support a horse who cannot earn money for them. A horse who cannot move around and run, is an unhappy creature.

Mares and stallions can be worth saving, if it is possible, since they can reproduce, but even so, if they can't move around, they will not stay physically or mentally well.

I've owned horses for decades and had two mares that were untreatably lame. Rather than just put them down, I donated them to a veterinary school where they were doing research on ways to help horses with their problems. I knew the mares would be eventually put down but hoped the research would help save horses in the future. While the conclusion to the study was that there was no direct way to cure the underlying problem, they did come up with recommendations for shoeing that helped support the problems inside their hooves to make them more comfortable.

I had another mare that we tried everything we could to heal her damaged hoof. The vet and the farrier tried all kinds of things. When we eventually put her down because I could no longer watch her be in pain, the vet cried. We'd tried for ten years to save that horse. I'd been there when she was born and when she died. She's buried here on my property. For most horse people, putting a horse down is not an easy choice.

[sarcoux]

12. heartbreaking

I hope the suffering was not extreme.

[oldsoftie]

15. I say every year horse racing needs to go away like dog racing.

The horses have no say in the matter & too many are abused & drugged for short term success.

[RussBLib]

16. Do horses die every year like this before big races?

In all the years of horse racing, I cannot recall ANY horses being put down before a big race. Maybe they were happening but they chose not to publicize them?

[Orrex]

17. Years ago I asked on DU why cockfighting is illegal but horse racing is revered

If memory serves, I was attacked rather aggressively.


Hmm...

[Haggard Celine]

21. Honestly, I think it's got as much to do with religion

and politics as it does with less lethal alternatives. Also, I think our society accepts certain behaviors in wealthy people while shaming the very same or very similar acts among the poor and working class. Cockfighting is illegal in a lot of the U.S., but there's no danger of them losing their minds over it. Personally, I think we could go up to Washington and

[Coventina]

19. FUCK HORSE RACING AND ANYONE WHO PARTICIPATES!

The athletes cannot give their informed consent.

THIS IS MURDER!!!

[NullTuples]

20. Gee, maybe the "sport" itself is what needs to be euthanized?