Three stakes winners break down over weekend

LEXINGTON, Ky. – It is said that bad things come in threes. The old adage came true over the weekend as three stakes-winning horses were euthanized after suffering catastrophic injuries, casting a pall over an otherwise-exciting three-day opening to the Keeneland fall meet.

Shore Runner, Skyring, and Tacticus died in unrelated accidents in a span of less than 24 hours on FallStars Weekend.

Shore Runner, owned by Brad Grady and trained by Joe Sharp, was coming off four straight victories – most recently the Lucky Coin and Troy stakes at Saratoga – when he broke down in midstretch of the Woodford Stakes, run over a muddy track Saturday. The 5-year-old gelding won 8 of 18 starts and $362,340.

Skyring, owned by Calumet Farm and trained by D. Wayne Lukas, broke down in his right hind leg midway down the backstretch of the Shadwell Turf Mile, run over soft turf Saturday. The 6-year-old horse won five times in 38 career starts, including a pair of Grade 2 races – the 2012 Dixie Stakes and 2014 Mervin Muniz Memorial Handicap. He earned $710,854.

Tacticus, owned by Flaxman Holdings and trained by Graham Motion, broke down during a breeze Sunday over a track still retaining moisture from the previous day. The 4-year-old colt from the final crop of A.P. Indy had become a specialist in dirt marathons, recently winning the Birdstone Stakes at Saratoga and the Temperence Hill Stakes at Belmont. He earned $197,751 from 12 starts.

“We understand that these things happen, but I’m afraid it doesn’t make it any easier,” said Motion. “[Tacticus] had achieved a lot in a short space of time. Not only that, but he was just a very kind and classy sort with what seemed a very bright future. We are all devastated, as is everyone on the Flaxman team.”

Keeneland representatives said they are hopeful that these events were aberrations and said they do everything possible to ensure the safety of horses and riders. Rogers Beasley, director of racing, reiterated before racing began Saturday that “safety is always the No. 1 consideration” when assessing the condition of both the dirt and turf courses.

Clocker Stephen Skaggs said he and other clockers were unaware of any recent breakdowns during training over the dirt track, which replaced Polytrack a little more than a year ago.

“Three meets, safe track,” said Skaggs.