Deadly Triple Crown season ends with 2 more horse deaths at Belmont Park
Global News
More than a dozen racehorses died at Triple Crown racetracks in May and June as advocates call for reforms and even an end to professional horse racing.
Two racehorses were euthanized after suffering severe injuries at Belmont Park just hours after the prestigious Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the Triple Crown, was run.
The deaths were among over a dozen that occurred at Triple Crown racetracks this season as advocates call for reforms and even an end to professional horse racing as a whole.
On Saturday, the US$1.5 million Belmont Stakes concluded with a win for thoroughbred Arcangelo and trainer Jena Antonucci, the first woman to train a Triple Crown race winner in its over 100-year history. The Belmont Stakes, which was the 12th of 13 races run at Belmont Park that day, went off without incident. But the 13th and final race of the day ended in tragedy.
Racehorse Excursionniste was euthanized after suffering a “catastrophic injury to its left front leg,” said New York Racing Association (NYRA) spokesman Pat McKenna.
Little Blue Bird Stables wrote that they were devastated by the death of their thoroughbred in a social media post.
“He was our big, goofy, talented, crazy, 1 for 16 NYB superstar. We do everything as a team, and will console as one for quite a while.”
The very next race run at Belmont Park the following day also ended with a death by euthanization.
