Field Level Media
02 Jun 2023, 08:19 GMT+10
After a special meeting between track officials and horsemen Thursday, Churchill Downs introduced a slew of new "safety initiatives and precautionary measures" to prevent equine injuries in the wake of an uptick in horse deaths.
A total of 12 horses have died in two months at the home of the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, including two on the Derby's undercard. The most recent deaths came Friday and Saturday, when Lost in Limbo and Kimberley Dream were euthanized following injuries.
Churchill Downs is pausing "track-based incentives" that give trainers bonuses for horses' starts; as well as limiting payouts to the top five finishers instead of every race finisher through last place.
Horses will also be restricted to four starts during a rolling eight-week period in an effort to keep them from being overworked.
The racetrack also announced "ineligibility standards." A horse beaten by more than 12 lengths in five straight starts will be ineligible until the track's equine medical director approves the horse for return.
"The attending veterinarians and trainers at Churchill Downs are incredibly capable and knowledgeable," Dr. Will Farmer, equine medical director for Churchill Downs Incorporated, said in a news release. "We feel a duty to provide the latest information on surgical interventions from an expert (Dr. Ryan Carpenter, an equine surgeon) who experienced the challenges in California a few years ago that we currently face today. Any decision must be made first and foremost with the long-term well-being of the horse in mind. It is imperative that all available, educated and informed options can be efficiently, confidently and thoroughly relayed to the owners."
--Field Level Media
Get a daily dose of Central Coast News news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Central Coast News.
More InformationLONDON, UK: This week, the Global Financial Centers index showed that New York remains the world's leading financial center, with ...
KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan: In a significant milestone for its defense capabilities, Taiwan has unveiled its first domestically developed submarine. Although it ...
HONIARA, Solomon Islands: Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare revealed that he opted out of a Pacific Islands leaders' summit at the ...
SACRAMENTO, California: Intending to raise some US$160 million per year to help prevent gun violence, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed ...
MANILA, The Philippines: The Philippines remains steadfast in its resolve not to yield to Chinese efforts to obstruct its fishermen ...
VICTORIA, Texas: This week, U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton in Victoria, Texas, ruled that President Joe Biden did not have ...
RIVERSIDE COUNTY, California: In his opening statement this week in the first U.S. trial over allegations that a car autopilot ...
SACRAMENTO, California: Intending to raise some US$160 million per year to help prevent gun violence, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed ...
WASHINGTON D.C. Due to internal brake fluid leaks that can cause an electrical short and could lead to engine fires, ...
SAN FRANCISCO, California: In a major update that will move it closer to popular artificial intelligence (AI) assistants, such as ...
Los Angeles [US], October 1 (ANI): Singer-actor Nick Jonas, on Sunday, surprised his fans with a photo dump from September ...
(Photo credit: Rob Schumacher / USA TODAY NETWORK) Arizona and Houston each celebrated a postseason berth on Saturday night after ...