12 Horses Suffer Fatal Injuries at Churchill Downs, Sparking Outpouring of Grief from Racing Community

Churchill Downs, the home of the Kentucky Derby, has seen a tragic month with 12 horses suffering fatal injuries on the racetrack. The two most recent fatalities occurred on Saturday and Friday, with both horses euthanized due to “inoperable and unrecoverable” injuries.

Mare Kimberley Dream was the first horse to suffer a distal sesamodean ligament rupture to her front leg during Saturday’s first race. Lost in Limbo was the second horse to suffer a similar injury just before the finish line in Friday’s seventh race.

The track has released a statement expressing their sorrow for the loss of the animals and their commitment to determining the cause of the injuries and making appropriate investments to minimize risk to the sport and its property.

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission is currently investigating the deaths of the 12 horses, and has implemented a number of safety measures, including the use of a synthetic track surface, to reduce the risk of injury.

The deaths of the horses have been met with an outpouring of grief from the racing community, and Churchill Downs has promised to continue to work to ensure the safety of the horses and the sport.