“It’s a Sad Day”: Equestrian Community in Mourning as 7 Horses Meet Tragic Fate at Saratoga Racecourse in Less Than a Month

People and animals participating in sports have to be in peak health condition. This not only enables them to give their best while on the field but also helps them endure the heavy toll the body undergoes. Despite all the preparation and precaution, however, things don’t always go as planned. In a series of unprecedented events, the equestrian world lost seven good racehorses in the last month at the Saratoga racetrack.

The equestrian world received too many shocks in a very short span of time. The Saratoga has been holding several races since the 13th of July. The 2023 Grade 1 Whitney Stakes also kicked off at Saratoga on 5th August. However, the perishing of two more racehorses has sent strong tensions in all directions. Mistreatment and mismanagement of horses plague the equestrian world. However, that does not seem to be the case this time.

The unfortunate deaths at Saratoga

The Saratoga Race Course was opened in New York in 1863. It is one of the great pillars of the equestrian community. While partaking in the Grade 1 Test Stakes on 5th August, a three-year-old filly fell just a few steps short of the finishing line. Maple Leaf Mel was an undefeated racehorse; however, it got up with a broken and dangling right front leg. Everyone watched the chilling scene unfold as Fox TV broadcasted the race. Another racehorse named Ever Summer took a bad fall on 6th August while running an allowance race. 

The equestrian racehorse suffered life-threatening injuries. Both Ever Summer and Maple Leaf Mel had to be euthanized on the racetrack. The gruesome manner in which both horses passed away has shaken up the equestrian world. Following the deaths, several people are now questioning the long-term viability of horseracing. In fact, the Saratoga racetrack isn’t the only venue that has witnessed so many unfortunate deaths. Several racetracks have faced several casualties tied to racing. 

Equestrian sports are on the media radar once again

The Churchill Downs racetrack saw the deaths of 12 horses this year. This forced the equestrian authorities to shift the Kentucky Derby to Ellis Park, another Kentucky racetrack. The Belmont Park Racetrack also had to cancel races due to poor air quality. The equestrian racetrack received a clearance later on. However, some of the participating racehorses died nonetheless. In fact, the Santa Anita Racetrack saw the deaths of 30 horses in six months. 

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The New York Racing Association released a statement regarding the deaths on 5th August. “Every horse entered to compete at Saratoga Race Course is required to undergo an extensive pre-race veterinary examination before the horse is permitted to race,” said the equestrian authority. The body also maintained that Maple Leaf Mel had passed the examination. The association also highlighted that safety protocols include a thorough examination of the horses’ training regimes, diet, and medical records. The nature of the fatalities is still unknown, but things don’t look good for the sport as dark clouds continue to loom around.

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