“Safety Is More Important Than Tradition”: With Deaths Rampant in the Equestrian Community, Officials Get Together to Decide the Fate of Triple Crown Races

Equestrian sport often comes under scrutiny for the horse deaths that occur consistently here. During every major racing event, there is news of equine fatalities that forms the dark clouds over this sport. Not many days have passed since more than five horses’ lives were cut short in a fateful turn of events. Numerous organizations have even voiced their opinions on banning animal sports permanently. Even though numerous efforts are made to avoid these fatalities, the outcomes remain bleak. These magnificent animals are either perishing on the racetracks or enduring injuries that lead to their unfortunate euthanasia.

Officials of major equestrian stakes races have decided to take a step to ensure the safety of the horses. It will especially focus on the triple crown races that involve the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, and Preakness Stakes.

The much-needed equestrian change

As reported by the Courier Journal, the time difference between the Triple Crown Races is one of the major issues that has been raised consistently. Due to these regular races, it becomes so hectic for the horses that they do not get the proper time to rest and recover adequately. The Kentucky Derby is held on the first Saturday in May; the Preakness Stakes is organized on the third Saturday of May; and the Belmont Stakes takes place either on the first or second Saturday of June. There is barely a moment for the horses to breathe and take sufficient rest. As the stakes of these races are always high, horses have to go through rigorous training invariably.

But the officials seem to have been working on changing some fundamentals of the gap between these races. Aidan Butler, the CEO of 1/ST Racing & Gaming, stated, “We have discussed it internally and believe it’s in the best interests of horses and horse safety to move the race four weeks after the Kentucky Derby.” He further added, “This would give horses more time to recover between races to be able to run in the Preakness. Horse safety is more important than tradition.” He also added that the New York Racing Association is aware of this decision and is keeping an eye on how this would affect the Belmont. Irrespective of what effect this decision would have on these races, it is definitely a ray of hope for the horses and a homage to the ones who lost their lives during these races.

The poor souls who lost their lives recently

More than 12 equine athletes lost their lives at Churchill Downs this season, and as a result, they had to shift the events to Ellis Park, Kentucky. Namely, Kimberley Dream and Lost in Limbo lost their lives during the Kentucky Derby, for which the equestrian authorities had to face the outrage of the fans. A horse named Excursionniste was euthanized after sustaining injuries in the final race of the Belmont Stakes. Later, another mare, Mashnee Girl, faced a similar fate and was euthanized in the same way as Excursionniste.

Read More: “These Horses Are Being Abused”: Tragic Update Rocks Kentucky Derby Racetrack as Sports World Calls for Strong Actions

There were also several horse fatalities reported during the Preakness Stakes. These deaths put a big question mark on the safety of the horses and have faced heavy criticism from the fans. However, these deaths are under investigation, and the final report on these deaths is yet to come, but the horses that lost their lives won’t benefit from this report. Meanwhile, efforts to regulate the tenure of triple crown races should be increased. What do you think? Let us know in the comments.

Watch The Story: After Five Horses Meet Their Death At Belmont Park, New York Racing Association Releases Statement of Equine Safety