Jockey Javier Castellano rode Mage ahead of Jareth Loveberry aboard Two Phil's to win the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. on May 6, 2023.
Syndication: The Courier-Journal
(New York, NY) — Another horse is dead after racing at Churchill Downs.
That’s the ninth horse that has died at the track in the last few weeks. Officials say Swanson Lake suffered a leg injury during a race on Saturday and was euthanized as a result. The 3-year-old was pulled up by jockey James Graham about 100 yards past the finish line after placing fourth in the $120,000 race.
Seven horses died in the nine days leading up to the Kentucky Derby and another died last weekend.
Trainer Bob Baffert returned from his two-year suspension on Saturday – following a positive drug test on the original winner of the 2021 Derby, Medina Spirit.
In his return, Swanson Lakes, his horse, died during the Preakness Stakes undercard.
It was quite the roller coaster for Baffert who also trains National Treasure, the winner of the Preakness on Saturday.
Churchill Downs said it was working continuously to “improve upon the highest industry standards,” but acknowledged there was “more to be done and we will rigorously work to understand what caused these incidents and build upon our existing data, programs and practices.”
