Deaths Of Two Horses Mar Belmont Stakes

The 155th Belmont Stakes has had two horse deaths in the 24 hours after the horse race took place at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York on Saturday.

This comes on the heels of the Kentucky Derby being moved to Ellis Park due to the investigation of 12 thoroughbred horse deaths last week at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

At Pimlico in Baltimore, Maryland, horse National Treasure, trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, who was coming off his ban, won at the Preakness Stakes. The race saw the euthanization of another horse, Havnameltdown.

According to New York Racing Association spokesman Pat McKenna, the horse, Mashnee Girl, who fell near the quarter pole, sustained a catastrophic injury to her left front leg.

McKenna said in a statement that a necropsy will be performed at Cornell University, as the 5-year-old mare was euthanized due to the severity of the injury. The results will be analyzed by the New York State equine medical director, along with Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) officials.

The spokesman stated that the NYRA, HISA and the New York State Gaming Commission will review the circumstances around the situation of the horse deaths.

This death is the latest for Belmont Park and the fourth since the spring-summer meet that began on May 4. McKenna said a total of 1,670 horses have started in 214 races since last month.

Mashnee Girl was trained by Mark Hennig and had three wins in 19 career starts (with earnings of $194,065). Hennig also trained the horse Excursionniste, who had to be put down after suffering “a catastrophic left front leg injury” in the 13th race for Belmont, which was the final one on the card, according to McKenna.

The Triple Crown, like the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, will be marred by recent horse deaths in their signature races.