Since equestrian sports were first included in the Olympics more than a century ago, the sport has a rich legacy. There are several extraordinary happenings in the sport that occur on certain days. The Preakness Stakes is an annual thoroughbred horse race in the United States, held in Baltimore, on Armed Forces Day (the third Saturday of May). Sadly, the 2016 running of a prestigious event that equestrian sports fans across the world eagerly anticipate didn’t occur as planned due to an unfortunate incident.

The Preakness Stakes is contested annually at Maryland’s Pimlico Race Course. On May 21, 2016, CNN reported the fatality that had occurred with two horses.

How did the equestrian event go that wrong?

Two horses named Homeboykris and Pramedya faced an unfortunate situation at the racetrack. During the first race of the day Homeboykris, a gelding aged nine, won the race in Baltimore on the Maryland track. However, on the way back to the barn the horse slumped and collapsed right in front of the eyes of the trainer, Francis Campitelli. Everyone who knew Homeboykris was taken aback by the news since the horse was widely regarded as among the best in the world. Before the Maryland competition, it had competed in 62 races, winning 13 and placing in the top three 28 times.

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In the fourth race, Pramedya, a 4-year-old filly, shattered its cannon bone in its leg, while racing on grass, and was euthanized on the spot. The incident also resulted in a broken collarbone for jockey Daniel Centeno. As per the report by CNN, according to spokesperson David Joseph, necropsies were conducted on both horses at New Bolton Center Hospital in Pimlico, southeast Pennsylvania.

The immediate response of PETA

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) quickly responded after the fateful occurrence. Ingrid Newkirk, the organization’s worldwide president, manages the organization from her headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia. On their official Twitter, they expressed their sadness and offered condolences to the animals.

The company claims that the most common cause of breakdowns and fatalities among horses is the overtreatment of preexisting problems. They also said that three horses each day are lost on American racetracks. Owners who give their horses pharmaceuticals like muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory treatments, and others to improve their performance have also been cautioned.

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The deaths of racehorses are tragic for their owners and fans, and should hence be treated as more than just commodities in a business transaction.