Churchill Downs Suspends Racing After 12 Horses Die Within A Month

Churchill Downs, the home of the Kentucky Derby, has suspended racing after a dozen horses died at the track within a month. 

“Churchill Downs Racetrack has seen an unusual number of horse injuries over the previous month resulting in 12 equine fatalities,” the track’s parent company said in a statement. “Following a thorough internal review and concurrent investigations conducted by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (“KHRC”) and Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (“HISA”), no single factor has been identified as a potential cause and no discernable pattern has been detected to link the fatalities.”

Racing has been suspended from June 7 through the remainder of the Spring Meet, which ends on July 3. Races will run as scheduled this weekend before relocating to Ellis Park Racing & Gaming in Henderson, where races will resume on June 10. 

On May 27, two more horses died at the venue. They accounted for the 11th and 12th horses to die within a short amount of time. 

The track has been examined by experts who found no cause for concern and “have concluded that the surface is consistent with prior measurements from Churchill Downs in past years.”

Despite the investigation failing to identify the root cause of the issue, the track has elected to move forward with relocating races while a “top-to-bottom review” is conducted.

“In addition to our commitment to providing the safest racing environment for our participants, we have an immense responsibility as the economic engine of the Thoroughbred industry in Kentucky which provides jobs and income for thousands of families every day,” said Bill Carstanjen, CEO of Churchill Downs Incorporated. “By relocating the remainder of the meet to Ellis Park, we are able to maintain this industry ecosystem with only minor disruption.” 

He added, “We are grateful to the Kentucky horsemen for their support, resiliency and continued partnership as we collectively work to find answers during this time.”