Churchill Downs has hosted the Kentucky Derby every year since 1875. Since then Louisville has flourished into an equestrian center, contributing to the growth of the city itself. However, the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby was one of the most tumultuous in the event’s history. Strange things happened at the track, from the deaths of a few horses to the surprise victory of the underdog, Mage. Fans at this year’s Derby have seen it all, but they’re still not thrilled with the track conditions.

CBS Sunday Morning has updated its Facebook page with new information. On Sunday, after a race at Churchill Downs, the equestrian community mourned the loss of yet another horse. This brought the number of horse death to eight.

Yet another fatality at the home of the Kentucky Derby

On Sunday, Rio Moon became the latest fatality at Churchill Downs as it was euthanized after sustaining a fatal injury to its left foreleg. Two more horses have recently perished at the Kentucky Derby’s home track in the hours leading up to the big race. Five more horses had to be put down due to problems encountered during the training and racing sessions.

ALSO READ – Days After the Death of 5 Race Horses at Churchill Downs, Twin Tragedy Rocks Kentucky Derby Hours Before the Big Event

Rio Moon was a winless Pegasus, finishing in second or third place just once in his career while making six total appearances. The horse did not advance beyond the maiden race and finished with a total of $11,621. The horse’s trainer and jockey were both seasoned practitioners of the sport. The jockey, Martin Garcia, has amassed a fortune of $103,060,623 during the course of his career, while trainer Dale L. Romans has garnered $118,015,600 in earnings.

The equestrian community mourns for this loss and raises concern

CBS Sunday Morning’s Facebook post attracted a large group of horse enthusiasts as soon as it went live. They expressed sadness for the horse’s death and voiced growing worries about the direction of events in the last several weeks.

Out of anger and disgust, one user commented, saying, “There are no words for this abuse and suffering. Disgusting how these incredibly gentle, smart and feeling souls are treated. All in the name of greed and the almighty.” A comment suggested that the sport requires a revamp, as it read, “Clean-up this sport!!! Remember the horrors behind dog racing? Horse racing has slid into the same ideology where cruelty is necessary to win the big $$$$$$$$$$$.”

According to another user’s comment, they have suggested a solution, saying, “Start making arrests and make them accountable. Perhaps the era of racing has come to an end.” Apart from all the concerns, a fan is suspicious about something, as they say, “Someone is poisoning those horses is what I think. This is very unusual.”

The equestrian community’s worry is warranted in light of the many fatalities that have occurred in the lead-up to and aftermath of the Derby, and Churchill Downs has yet to address these concerns.

WATCH THIS STORY – “People Are Acting Like Zombies”: Viral Video of Bloody Kentucky Derby Brawl Leads to Brutal Reactions From Sports World