In an industry rocked by recent deaths of horses in the last six months, two more died last weekend. These incidents took place at Saratoga in upstate New York the same day of the high-profile Travers Stakes.
It was supposed to be a day of celebration at Saratoga. All three Triple Crown winners were entered in the Travers. Instead, New York Thunder and Nobel suffered catastrophic injuries and were euthanized, casting a pall over the Grade I Travers Stakes and leaving racing fans in shock. These heartbreaking incidents add to the mounting death toll at Saratoga, which now stands at twelve since the start of the racing season on July 13.
New York Thunder, a promising 3-year-old colt, was far ahead in the Grade 1 $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes when disaster struck. As he powered towards victory, the colt fell, fracturing his left front fetlock, a devastating injury that left him with no chance of survival.
In another devastating blow, Nobel, the favorite in a turf allowance race, suffered a life-ending injury during the gallop out. The Irish-bred colt, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, broke down on the turf, leaving racing fans in disbelief. Nobel’s untimely death adds to the growing list of fatalities at Saratoga, further fueling the outcry against the sport.
The recent tragedies at Saratoga have brought attention not only from animal rights activists but also from the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA). Since the start of the season, seven horses have suffered catastrophic injuries during races at Saratoga, with an additional four fatalities occurring during training. This alarming spike in fatalities has raised serious concerns about the safety of the horses and the measures in place to protect them.
The mounting fatalities have prompted investigations by HISA, the New York State Gaming Commission, and the New York State Equine Medical Director.
HISA, established to oversee the safety and integrity of horse racing, has pledged to work closely with the New York Racing Association (NYRA) and the gaming commission to review the recent spate of tragedies. However, questions remain about the effectiveness of existing safety protocols and the responsibility of all stakeholders in safeguarding the welfare of the horses.
In response to the recent fatalities, NYRA President & CEO Dave O’Rourke emphasized the paramount importance of horse and jockey safety at Saratoga Race Course. NYRA is conducting a thorough investigation, collaborating with HISA, the gaming commission, and the equine medical director. Additionally, NYRA plans to convene a group of outside experts to evaluate the current safety protocols and procedures in an effort to further enhance horse welfare and minimize the risk of catastrophic injuries.
Calls for horse racing safety are coming at other tracks other than Saratoga. In New Mexico, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham wrote a letter demanding the sport’s regulators outlaw performance enhancing drugs, which are commonly used at race tracks.
Lujan Grisham said 642 race horses were euthanized in New Mexico between 2014 and 2022, the sixth-highest number in the country. She said in addition to banning drugs, horses should have pre-race evaluations, complete with blood draws and continuous monitoring while they are in their stalls and during training.
