One more horse has died after a race at a Triple Crown monitor.
Excursionniste was injured and euthanized in the course of the 13th and ultimate race at Belmont Park on Saturday, which was the one which instantly adopted the Belmont Stakes’ principal occasion.
In keeping with USA At the moment, which cited the Equibase race chart, Excursionniste led on the quarter-mile mark and was in second place when the turf race reached a half mile, and New York Racing Affiliation spokesman Pat McKenna stated in a press release to the Related Press that the horse sustained a “catastrophic damage to its left entrance leg.”
“Regardless of the quick response and greatest efforts of on-site attending veterinarians,” McKenna stated within the assertion to the AP, “the horse was humanely euthanized because of the severity of the damage.”
PETA senior vp Kathy Guillermo stated in a press release that “racing couldn’t handle to maintain all horses alive for even one Triple Crown day this 12 months,” including that it had inspired the NYRA and New York State Gaming Fee “to require CT scans for all horses racing right this moment as a way to display screen for preexisting accidents.”
The group had additionally referred to as for the Belmont Stakes to be postponed earlier within the week because of the low air high quality stemming from the Canadian wildfires, although these ranges improved main as much as Saturday.
However PETA nonetheless criticized the hosts of the Triple Crown’s ultimate stage following the newest horse loss of life amid a regarding stretch within the sport.
“The racing trade is digging its personal grave — in addition to this horse’s,” Guillermo wrote within the PETA assertion Saturday evening.
About 40 minutes earlier than Excursionniste’s damage, Arcangelo received the 2023 Belmont Stakes and coach Jena Antonucci turned the primary feminine coach to assert a Triple Crown title.
Jockey Javier Castellano additionally received one other Triple Crown race after guiding Mage to a Kentucky Derby victory in Might.
“After we have been strolling out, I stated there may be not a desk made for you,” Antonucci stated following the race, in line with the AP. “You make the desk. You place nice folks round you, you’re employed laborious. Work your tail off. It can come in the event you do it the proper manner. Do it the proper manner.”
However after the primary 12 races at Belmont Park ended with none fatalities, that modified within the 13th and ultimate occasion.
Excursionniste’s loss of life continues a disturbing pattern in horse racing.
Churchill Downs suspended operations by way of the top of the Spring Meet schedule following a stretch main as much as and in the course of the Kentucky Derby the place 12 horses died on the racetrack, one other horse died the morning of the Preakness Stakes and, in line with the AP, Excursionniste turned the third horse to die at Belmont Park this 12 months.
“Devestated [sic]. There’s simply no different phrase,” Little Blue Fowl Stables, the place Excursionniste was skilled by Mark Henning, wrote on Twitter following the horse’s loss of life. “He was our large, goofy, gifted, loopy, 1 for 16 NYB celebrity. We do every thing as a crew, and can console as one for fairly some time.”