Breeders Cup?

Question

How many horses have received either severe or lethal injury at this meeting, if I recall there always seems to be some death or trauma at the Breeders Cup, I think I remember one it was Mr Bailey's he was in the Breeders Cup and he was running well then suddenly his leg broke and what a horrible sight it was. I do like my racing but the tracks I believe are more harsh than the UK and would be interested in the number of fatalities at this particular meet each year?

Answer 1

in history?  I don't know.  This year, just the one.

I know there were two fillies who broke down last year... one was ok, but Pine Island was put down :o(  

I don't think it's anymore than happen at UK meets.

Answer 2

It is not really fair to compare the number of fatalities at the Breeders' Cup meeting as it is held at a different track each year, although it does tend to stick to the same half a dozen or so.

Mr Baileys did not break down at Breeders' Cup, you are thinking of MR BROOKS, ridden by Lester Piggott in the 1992 Sprint.

I don't know the exact number of fatalities, but after some research I found: Go For Wand (1990 Distaff), Mr Nickerson (heart attack during 1990 Sprint), Shaker Knit (fell over Mr Nickerson in the 1990 Sprint and had to be put down), Mr Brooks (1992 Sprint), Spanish Fern (2000 F&M Turf), Landseer (2002 Mile), Funfair (2005 Mile), and of course George Washington (2007 Classic).

I also recall that a few years ago a filly reared over backwards and banged her head.  She was put down a few days later, but this was a freak accident.

All in all, considering that the event has been running for 23 years and many hundreds of horses have taken part, that is not a whooly bad record.  Don't forget that one year the Cheltenham Festivla had 7 fatalities in just 3 days.