How many horses have died ON THE TRACK, at the Kentucky Derby?

Question

How many horses have died ON THE TRACK, at the Kentucky Derby?

Answer 1

One.  Eight Belles.  If you're asking how many horses have died on the track DURING the Kentucky Derby RACE (#10 of 12 races, first Sat in May each year - not considering they host races all year around and it's not the only track in the world).

Edit: I found this article stating that Chruchill Downs has no record of a Kentucky Derby horse being euthanized, but the record books do show injuries...

http://www.kentucky.com/304/story/395077...

Answer 2

I believe Eight Belles was the only horse to die on the track on the Kentucky Derby. Things like that don't usually happen during this race, usually injuries but not death. I have never heard of a horse breaking two front ankles at once. My heart goes out to those who worked with her.

Answer 3

Ok first off gal calling herself RIP EIGHT BELLES... hOW THE h**l did you become so freaking ignorant??????? You're a kid right? I'm sur eof it no rational adult would spew c**p liek you are soooooooooo RED DOT time and I'm only doing it's b/c you know jack S**t when it comes to horse racing and the care the animals recieve that much is obvious.

Now on to the real question. I'm not sure how many have actually died in the Derby Eight Belles this year is all I know about. It's been the races after such a grueling race that most have broken down.... Prarie Bayou in the belmont 1993 , charismatic in the 1999 belmont , Barbaro in the 2006 Preakness..... I love racing but I belive there should be more time between the Triple Crown races to allow the horses to recover better after having just given their all on the track in the derby

Answer 4

According to this article http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/s... there have been four other serious injuries during the 134 runnings of the Kentucky Derby.  Of the four mentioned in this article, Flip Sal's injury was career ending but not life ending, Liberty Limited and Holy Land continued racing, I cannot find information on Busy American.  So the answer to your question is one certain (Eight Belles) possibly two.

Answer 5

Probably like 10.....god i hate the kentucky derby now...eight belles was so young!!

Answer 6

Is it possible 3 & 4 year old horses are to young to race. Are their bones fully developed for such stress?

Answer 7

Who knows how many horses die anonymous deaths in ALL of horse racing every year? How many more do we need?

Thoroughbred racing is a brutal sport. Why do we keep giving it a pass?

Answer 8

Only one, yesterday.  For more information go to Louisville Courier Journal. There's an article in today's (Sunday's) paper.

Answer 9

Only One in 134 runnings, one or two more suffered injuries that required retirement, but Eight Belles is the only one who suffered fatal injuries.

Answer 10

that day? 8 belles

Answer 11

Too many

People just sit with their money and their stupid fluffy hats with bouncing sh*t coming out of the top and dont realize what the horses are being put through! I didnt make it to the television in time but when i found out this morning i was heartbroken. Its so sad how people put young horses in like that for MONEY. Its really depressing. I would be so mordified if my favorite horse on this planet was put into a big shindig like that and had to be put down for breaking to ankles.

I'll pray for Eight Bells.

Answer 12

Sara22 is right at least according to ESPN...

But the Derby, the sport's high holy day, has always been blessed in that area. It doesn't happen here -- not on the first Saturday in May, at least. If another Derby horse has died on the Churchill Downs dirt, nobody can remember it.

Also, don't forget about Union City at the Preakness 3 weeks before Prairie Bayou. Just to pay tribute. I LOVE horses and horse racing and these things happen in any sport. It is horrible but these animals are treated better then most people get to live. This is a totally freak accident...I have never heard of a horse breaking 2 legs simultaneously especially after the race was over.

Answer 13

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