Four horses suffer fatal breakdowns at Keeneland meet

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Four horses have suffered catastrophic injuries while racing during the first 13 days of Keeneland’s 16-day spring meet.

Three of the breakdowns occurred during dirt races, and the other occurred during a turf race. Three of the four horses were 4 years old, while the other was a 3-year-old. Three were relatively accomplished horses – with two of the horses having either won or placed in a stakes race – while the other was a maiden making his second start. Three of the four were sold at auction earlier in their lives.

The four breakdowns have occurred during a time of intense scrutiny of the racing industry brought about by a spate of breakdowns this winter at Santa Anita Park (where there has been only one breakdown in either racing or training in the past month). In addition, the Keeneland breakdowns have occurred after racing deaths notably jumped in Kentucky last year.

Dr. Mary Scollay, the equine medical director of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, said the deaths are being reviewed through the commission’s standard protocols, which includes necropsies, drug tests, and a review of all health information related to the horses. Those reviews have not yet been completed, Scollay said.

Due to the recent Santa Anita deaths and the criticism that has been directed at the racing industry, racing commission personnel met with horsemen prior to the Keeneland meet in order to ask trainers to notify state veterinarians of any problems they might be having with their horses, and the response has generally been good, Scollay said.

“Everyone is pretty risk-averse right now, and horsemen have been pretty cooperative,” Scollay said.

The first horse to break down was Cathedral Reader, who was injured during the Grade 1 Madison Stakes on April 6, the third day of the meet. Mandel, a winner of five races from 18 starts, then broke down on April 10. Amandine, a stakes-winning filly who had 11 starts in Europe prior to making six starts in the United States, broke down last Friday in a turf race. Finally, Into Morocco, a maiden making his second start, suffered an injury Saturday and was put down Sunday.

Keeneland released statements following the first three deaths, noting that the horses will be examined under the commission’s necropsy program.

The focus on the breakdowns is creating a perilous time for the racing industry as it approaches Triple Crown season. There are three days left of racing at Keeneland before racing in Kentucky shifts to Churchill Downs on Saturday, kicking off Kentucky Derby week.