Racing plunged into more controversy at Belmont Stakes as ANOTHER horse is killed
Racing plunged into more controversy at Belmont Stakes as ANOTHER horse is killed, bringing recent death toll to THIRTEEN…as PETA slams sport for ‘digging its own grave’
- A four-year-old horse was euthanized in Belmont on Saturday after the last race
- The death follows 12 fatalities since April at Churchill Downs in Kentucky
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There was a sad end to the day at Belmont Stakes Saturday after Arcangelo’s feature race victory when a horse was euthanized after the final sprint.
Excursionniste was in contention heading into the final corner, but suffered an injury and broke down.
The four-year-old was subsequently euthanized, and now PETA has ruled on the death – which follows a few deadly months in Churchill Downs.
“Racing failed to keep all horses alive for even one Triple Crown day this year. Belmont Park did not do enough to prevent Excursionniste’s death,” they said in a statement to Mail Sport.
PETA urged the New York Racing Association and the New York State Gaming Commission to require CT scans for all horse racing today to screen for pre-existing injuries, which are present in 90 percent of these fatalities. They refused. The racing industry is digging its own grave, just like this horse’s.’
Excursionniste, just four years old, was euthanized after the last race of the day at Belmont
The feature race was won by Arcangelo with jockey Javier Castellano (far right)
As many as 12 horses have died in Churchill Downs since April, and officials have yet to identify a match between the deaths.
In addition, Havnameltdown was euthanized after succumbing his anterior left leg in the Preakness undercard last month.
Following the recent spate of deaths at Churchill Downs, the track made the decision to suspend all racing there, moving the 2023 Spring Meet to Ellis Park instead.
However, PETA accused the track of playing “Russian roulette” with the horses’ lives after that move.
“We are relieved that racing has been suspended, which PETA has been calling for since May 2, but Churchill Downs should not be allowed to play Russian roulette with the lives of these horses by simply moving the problem elsewhere,” the animal rights organization said in a statement. to Mail Sports.
‘Putting the bullet in another room can have the same fatal outcome. We are frustrated with the racing industry’s refusal to implement technology that has been scientifically and statistically proven to save lives.
“Until racetracks install synthetic surfaces and use CT scanning equipment to detect injuries, among other improvements, they can’t pretend to be mystified by fatalities.”