Seven Race Horses Mysteriously Die At Kentucky Derby

A total of seven horses died during the 149th Kentucky Derby.

Several of the horses were euthanized just hours before the Kentucky Derby was set to kick off.

A 3-year-old colt named Freezing Point was pulled from its race hours before the race began and was euthanized for an undisclosed reason.

Chloe’s Dream a 3-year-old gelding was taken away from the race track in a van and later euthanized too.

As of right now there’s no reports of what caused the large amount of deaths of horses this year at the historic horse race.

Another horse died at Churchill Downs earlier Saturday, and the early favorite for the Kentucky Derby was scratched Saturday hours before the race — further blows to a sport already reeling from a series of doping suspensions and breakdowns. https://t.co/iopgYFRgEW

— CBS News (@CBSNews) May 6, 2023

Two more horses died in the hours before 15-1 shot Mage won the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, capping a rocky stretch in which seven in all died and casting a shadow over the 149th edition of the world’s most famous race. https://t.co/Xef4pzXWIc

— Atlanta Journal-Constitution (@ajc) May 7, 2023

Here’s what Fox News reported:

Two more horses died in the hours before 15-1 shot Mage won the Kentucky Derby Saturday, increasing this week’s death count at Churchill Downs to seven.

The alarming number of horse deaths cast a shadow over the 149th edition of the world’s most famous race.

Chloe’s Dream, a 3-year-old gelding that ran on the Derby undercard, was hauled away by a van and later euthanized Saturday morning.

Freezing Point, a 3-year-old colt, was then pulled from the Pat Day Mile race just hours before the start of the main event. The horse later received a lethal injection.

A total of five horses were also suspended from the Kentucky Derby.

The deaths during Derby week have increased the scrutiny of the sport as it continues to deal with doping suspensions.

A horse in Saturday’s second race, 3-year-old Chloe’s Dream, took a bad step leaving the first turn and was taken off in an equine ambulance. https://t.co/f8vNL0nnHZ

— HuffPost (@HuffPost) May 6, 2023

CBS had more on the story:

Two horses died at Churchill Downs earlier Saturday, and the early favorite for the Kentucky Derby was scratched Saturday hours before the race, further blows to a sport already reeling from a series of doping suspensions and breakdowns.

Forte was declared out of the 149th Derby, according to Churchill Downs spokesman Darren Rogers. Co-owner Mike Repole said Kentucky Horse Racing Commission veterinarians had concerns about a bruised right front foot.

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It was the fifth scratch this week from the $3 million race, the first time that many were scratched since 1936. That year 19 horses were entered and 14 ran.

The colt stumbled on the track during a workout Thursday, although trainer Todd Pletcher had downplayed it.

And after reading this, does anyone else immediately think of this old Far Side comic?

In light of the #KentuckyDerby, have to post one of my favorite Far Sides ever… pic.twitter.com/fEBMmVyLBQ

— Noah Christopher (@DailyNoahNews) May 7, 2023