A raging thunderstorm that washed out activities Sunday morning at Churchill Downs symbolized the dark clouds hanging over the Triple Crown after a troubling string of horse deaths.
Seven horses have died at the track since April 27, including Derby entrant Wild On Ice. Freezing Point and Chloe's Dream were euthanized after injuries before Saturday's Kentucky Derby that was ultimately won by Mage. Five sustained catastrophic leg injuries, while two succumbed suddenly from causes yet to be determined.
"Everyone in the industry wants to make racing as safe as possible," Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said Sunday. "And even in situations like that where right now everyone is doing everything they can to make sure the horses are going out there in the safest possible conditions, we still had two fatal breakdowns yesterday. It's something as a trainer that keeps you up at night.
The director of the University of Kentucky's racetrack safety program added that the evaluation is ongoing to keep the track condition uniform and make needed improvements.
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