Officials from Churchill Downs, the home of the famed Kentucky Derby, announced on Saturday that two more horses had died. Chloe’s Dream, a three-year-old, was euthanized following Race 2 after taking a misstep while leaving the first turn and was taken off the track in an equine ambulance. Later in Race 8, Freezing Point suddenly pulled up after suffering an injury to his front ankle and was eventually euthanized.
Darren Rogers, senior director of communications and media services for Churchill Downs, released a statement on Saturday, confirming the deaths of two horses at the track. Three-year-old Chloe’s Dream was euthanized after Race 2, due to injuries sustained when she took a bad step after leaving the first turn.
Meanwhile, Freezing Point suffered an injury to his front ankle during Race 8, and despite being attended to by medical staff, the horse was unable to recover and was also euthanized. “Chloe’s Dream in Race 2 and Freezing Point in Race 8 sustained racing injuries from which they could not recover on Saturday, and for humane reasons, both were euthanized,” Rogers said in the statement.
“The horses will be transported to the University of Kentucky Veterinary Diagnostics Lab for complete necropsies,” he added.
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The Kentucky Derby is an annual horse race held in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, typically on the first Saturday in May. The race is the first leg of the American Triple Crown, followed by the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes. It is known as “The Most Exciting Two Minutes In Sports” because of its approximate duration.
The race is open to three-year-old Thoroughbreds and is run at a distance of one and a quarter miles at Churchill Downs racetrack. The event is known for its rich history, fashion, and high-profile attendees, and has been held annually since its inception in 1875.
