Havnameltdown, a 3-year-old colt who was the favorite in Pimlico’s sixth race, was euthanized hours before Preakness Stakes. The horse stumbled near the final turn and threw his jockey, Luis Saez. Its trainer, Bob Baffert, just returned from suspension.
, at least 74 horses died under Baffert’s care in California between 2000 and 2021, more than all but two of hundreds of trainers operating in the state.
“It’s the worst feeling,” Baffert said Saturday. “And we grieve. We do grieve when these things happen. There’s nothing worse than coming back [to the stables] and the stall is empty … He is a nice horse. He could not have been doing any better. It’s sickening. I am in shock.”Advertisement Havnameltdown, based at Del Mar Race Track outside San Diego, carried a record of four wins in seven career starts into Saturday’s race. He was nearing the final turn when he appeared to stumble, throwing Saez from his back. The horse continued to run but was in obvious distress with an injury to what appeared to be his left hind leg.
He was met quickly on the homestretch by an outrider, who corralled him until medical personnel arrived on the scene. A dark screen was placed around the horse to shield the public’s view, while 100 yards or so away, a DJ continued to blast music to the small crowd gathered near the festival stage in the infield.
As Havnameltdown was put down, the crowd, seemingly oblivious to the tragedy taking place on the track, danced to 2Pac’s “California Love.”
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