Churchill Downs conducts investigation on deaths of four horses ahead of Saturday’s Kentucky Derby

Four horses died in five days in Louisville and two Kentucky Derby contenders could be scratched as one stable coped with the sudden loss.

Derby entry Wild on Ice suffered a fatal hind leg injury and two horses died Tuesday after collapsing as part of the same race card: Take Charge Briana, trained by D. Wayne Lukas, and Chasing Artie. Pride’s parents had a leg injury and were euthanized on Saturday.

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said he is considering how to proceed this week at Churchill Downs, where he has entered Wood Memorial Stakes winner Lord Miles and could have seven horses on the loaded card for the weekend.

Churchill Downs ordered full autopsies of the deceased horses, saying Joseph’s horses died suddenly of unknown causes, while the other two died from “musculoskeletal injuries from which they could not recover.”

The track called the deaths “unusual and unacceptable.”

Race organizers called the deaths “unusual and unacceptable” three days before the event

“We take this very seriously and recognize that these disturbing incidents are alarming and need to be addressed,” said a statement from Churchill Downs. “We feel a tremendous responsibility to our fans, the participants of our sport and the entire industry to be a leader in safety and continue to make significant investments to eliminate risk for our athletes.

“We have complete confidence in our race bottoms and our riders and riders have assured us they do too.”

Joseph had entered a single horse for Wednesday’s ‘Champions Day’ at Churchill Downs. But the 3-year-old filly Accomplished Girl was scratched from the 10th race.

Joseph struggled to focus on the long term this week.

“It crushes me,” Joseph said of losing his two horses this week. ‘We don’t have the answer. And that’s what — that’s what we need to get the answer. We let them get hurt. That is different.

Kentucky Derby hopeful and favorite Forte trains at Churchill Downs on Wednesday

“I’ve never had a horse like this, from something internal to the race? No. Actually, it’s mind-boggling. I mean, in a race, twice in three days and the first two runners, like, I mean, the same owner? It’s mind-boggling.’

Joseph said he was uncomfortable not knowing the cause of the tragedies this week.

‘We’ll have to find out. “What’s the reason?” said Joseph. “I don’t think it’s bad luck.”

Joseph appealed a 15-day suspension issued by the Pennsylvania State Horseracing Commission, which included a $500 fine for a positive test for Gabapentin in one of his fillies, Artie’s Princess. Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant and nerve pain medication that treats musculoskeletal pain.

Jockey Club data revealed 7,200 horse deaths between 2009 and 21.