An investigation into the deaths of 12 horses at Churchill Downs found no direct link between the fatalities and the track itself. However, the report raised concerns about the increased risk faced by some horses due to their exercise and racing schedules.
The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) launched the probe in spring 2023 to determine the causes of the breakdowns, prevent further injuries, and assess whether the conditions at the renowned Louisville, Kentucky track contributed to the deaths. HISA described the situation as a “serious reminder” of the sport’s challenges and the authority’s role.
Following the fatalities, HISA recommended moving the remaining spring races to Ellis Park in Evansville, Indiana, for further investigation at Churchill Downs. The authority expressed deep concern over the high number of horse deaths and called for an “emergency veterinary summit.”
Racetrack expert Dennis Moore was hired to evaluate the track conditions. He spent several days assessing the main dirt track’s cushion depth, moisture content, surface grades, and material composition. Moore found that these metrics were consistent with previous years and did not correlate with the catastrophic injuries observed.
The report also investigated the locations of the injuries on the track but found no significant patterns. Dr. Alina Vale reviewed the necropsy results and found no common cause among the fatalities, with no prohibited substances detected in any of the horses.
Veterinary expert Susan Stover from the University of California at Davis noted that the 12 horses had raced more frequently than the average horse. Although no direct link was found between the track surface and the deaths, the investigation revealed that the frequency and intensity of the horses’ exercise schedules posed an increased risk.
The report detailed the causes of death for the 12 horses: four fractures from racing on the dirt track, two fractures from the turf track, two soft tissue injuries from the dirt track, two cases of exercise-associated sudden death, one paddock injury, and one fracture from training on the dirt track.
HISA shared its recommendations with Churchill Downs prior to the track’s reopening. The authority suggested improvements in track surface testing and maintenance and recommended better injury tracking and reporting procedures.
Churchill Downs responded by stating that they have already implemented several recommendations from the HISA report and made additional internal safety enhancements in preparation for the September Meet. “We appreciate the thorough investigation by HISA,” said Darren Rogers, senior director of communications at Churchill Downs. “We will continue to prioritize equine safety and invest in initiatives to support it.”
Racing at Churchill Downs is set to resume on September 14.
