racetrack

11 Stories

After 'Series of Unfortunate Circumstances,' a Reopening

Racing to resume at Kentucky's Churchill Downs in September, after 12 horse deaths

(Newser) - Racing will resume at Churchill Downs in September, with no changes being made after a review of surfaces and safety protocols in the wake of 12 horse deaths, including seven in the days leading up to the Kentucky Derby in May. The Louisville track suspended racing operations on June 7...

Racing Suspended at Churchill Downs After 12 Horse Deaths

Venue is moving its current thoroughbred meet to Ellis Park in wake of 'unusual' number of deaths

(Newser) - Churchill Downs is suspending racing operations and moving the rest of its spring meet after a series of mysterious horse deaths. CBS News reports that 12 horses have died at the Louisville, Kentucky, racetrack since April 27, spurring the suspension that will run from Wednesday through July 3. Although racing...

Santa Anita Bans Top Trainer After Horse Death

Jerry Hollendorfer calls it 'pretty extreme'

(Newser) - Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer has been banned by the ownership of Santa Anita after a fourth horse from his stable has died—and the 30th overall—at the Southern California track, the AP reports. The Stronch Group, which owns the track, says Saturday in a statement that Hollendorfer...

26th Horse in 5 Months Dies at Santa Anita

Kochees is 3rd horse to die in 9 days

(Newser) - Santa Anita had its third horse death in nine days when a gelding pulled up during a race and was euthanized. Twenty-six horses have died in racing or training at the southern California track since Dec. 26, reports the AP . The Los Angeles Times reports that Kochees sustained an injury...

David Cassidy Skips DWI Hearing, Hits Racetrack

Officials 'disturbed' after '70s star is busted by a tweet

(Newser) - A tweet from a horse track prompted prosecutors to halt a court hearing at which a lawyer for 1970s heartthrob David Cassidy was supposed to accept a plea deal on the singer's behalf. Cassidy was charged last summer with driving while intoxicated in the town of Schodack, near Albany....

Horses Run Loose After Tornado Hits Churchill Downs

Barns damaged at home of Kentucky Derby

(Newser) - A tornado hit the home of the Kentucky Derby Wednesday night, damaging several barns and leaving horses running loose. No injuries to humans or horses were reported after the tornado at Louisville's Churchill Downs, reports the AP . The horses were corralled and no damage to the racetrack's iconic...

Brit Racetrack First to Ban Whipping

Officials cite animal welfare concerns

(Newser) - The whip is on the way out at Britain's Towcester racecourse. Bosses at the course, one of the country's toughest, will require riders to stick to the "head and heels" system, in which the whip can only be used for steering. "It is the Towcester board’...

Driver Flicks Cigarette, 6 Horses Burn to Death

Motorist ignites hay in trailer transporting young thoroughbreds

(Newser) - Six racehorses burned to death when a passing driver flicked a still-burning cigarette butt into their trailer as it traveled down a North Carolina highway on Friday night. The hay was ignited, and quickly killed the frantic thoroughbreds on their way to New York's Belmont racetrack. The trailer's...

Horses Electrocuted in Racecourse Tragedy

Shocks from faulty cable surged through shoes, officials believe

(Newser) - Two prize racehorses began prancing grotesquely, then staggered and fell dead on a patch of grass before a British race over the weekend. The horrifying spectacle unfolded in front of a stunned crowd watching the riderless horses being led around the infield paddock of the Newbury track. Official speculated they...

Rain Cancels Derby Workouts

Race expected to go on, just soggier

(Newser) - Heavy rain has postponed early morning workouts at Churchill Downs, where all 20 Kentucky Derby horses are still expected to start. Most turf races were being moved to the main dirt track today, at least until late in the day. That sparked numerous scratches in minor races. Kentucky state veterinarian...

Moose on the Loose Hits Saratoga Race Course

Wayward moose wanders onto ground of historic racetrack

(Newser) - Fans spotted a different kind of four-legged visitor yesterday at the Saratoga Race Course when a wayward moose wandered onto the grounds, reports the Albany Times-Union reports. Dozens of surprised onlookers—most of whom had never seen a wild moose before, let alone one on a racetrack—gathered to see...

11 Stories