A horse trained by the controversial Bob Baffert has died after being euthanized on track during Saturday’s Preakness undercard, bringing the sport of racing under heavy scrutiny once again.
Hours before the second leg of the Triple Crown in Baltimore, Maryland, favorite Havnameltdown leaned forward on his left front leg and knocked jockey Luis Saez off his back, before running around the final corner in some distress.
The three-year-old colt was viewed by chief veterinarian Dr. Dionne Benson and others, who determined the injury was inoperable and decided the horse should be euthanized, according to a statement from 1ST Racing, which owns and operates the track. .
In a statement to DailyMail.com, PETA Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo lashed out at organizers for allowing the embattled Baffert onto the track after his previous one-year suspension for repeated medication violations.
“Pimlico should have followed Churchill Downs’ example and kept Bob Baffert off the track,” she said. Baffert has been implicated in drug scandals, the deaths of seven horses that collapsed in California, and at least 75 horses he tended to have died.
Havnameltdown (left) was euthanized on track after a fall during a race at Pimlico
Screens are held up around the stricken horse as he is put out on the track on Saturday
PETA has criticized the organizers for allowing Bob Baffert (pictured) to enter horses for the race
Havnameltdown’s tragic death is the latest in a long line of fatalities. The racing industry needs to kick out the bad guys or it will have blood on its hands as well as blood on its tracks.”
The jockey Saez, meanwhile, was conscious and was taken to Sinai Hospital for an examination, complaining of leg pain, track officials announced. He was attended to on the track by medical personnel for several minutes before being placed on a stretcher and placed in an ambulance.
Havnameltdown’s death comes on another big day of racing, in the wake of the Kentucky Derby overshadowed by eight fatalities at Churchill Downs over the span of 10 days.
Havnameltdown, the 4-5 favorite for the $200,000 dirt race and broke from the inside No. 1, was bumped out of the gate by No. 2 Ryvit and broke a step slow, but kept running in the six furlong race.
Fans in the crowd at Pimlico Race Course gasped as the horse tripped before the final turn and threw Saez.
In an incongruous scene, while watching Saez and Havnameltdown, 2Pac’s “California Love” kept blaring from infield speakers set up right near where it was happening.
Jockey Luis Saez was taken off on a stretcher but was conscious on his way to the hospital
The death at Preakness on Saturday is the ninth in recent weeks as clouds of controversy race
Meanwhile, on Pimlico’s homestretch, the horse was brought under control by the track crew and then led behind some black barriers.
During the next race, the music was stopped.
Baffert is running horses on Preakness weekend for the first time in two years after returning from a suspension following the failed drug test of 2021 Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit.
He was unable to enter any horses in the Derby for the past two years as part of a decision by Churchill Downs. He couldn’t have one in the 2022 Preakness of Belmont due to a 90-day ban in Kentucky respected by Maryland and New York.
One of his horses, Arabian Lion, won a previous race. Baffert will also saddle National Treasure in the Preakness.
What was expected to be a day of feasting and feasting was marred by the horse’s death
Enchanting race goers enjoy their afternoon at Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore, Maryland
Saez, a Panamanian who turned 31 on Friday, was originally scheduled to ride top contender First Mission in the Preakness. But that horse was scratched on vets’ advice because of a problem with his left rear ankle.
At the 2019 Kentucky Derby, Saez crossed the line first with Maximum Security, but stewards revoked the win and dropped the colt to 17th for obstructing the paths of several horses. Saez was then suspended, charged with causing the interference.
Earlier this year, he was aboard Kentucky Derby champion Mage for a second-place finish at the Florida Derby. At Churchill Downs two weeks ago, Saez’s horse, Tapit Trice, finished seventh in the Derby.
Owned by Michael Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman, Havnameltdown had won four of his six career starts prior to this race. He had last finished second in the Saudi Derby in February.