Two horses died Saturday at Churchill Downs, and the early favorite for the Kentucky Derby was scratched Saturday hours before the race, another blow to a sport already reeling from a series of suspensions and doping breakdowns.
Forte was ruled out of the 149th Derby, according to Churchill Downs spokesman Darren Rogers. Co-owner Mike Repole said Kentucky Horse Racing Commission veterinarians were concerned about a contusion on his right front foot.
It was the fifth scratch of the week in the $3 million race, the first time that many have been scratched since 1936. That year 19 horses were entered and 14 ran.
The colt stumbled on the track during a workout on Thursday, although trainer Todd Pletcher had played it down.
Chloe’s Dream, a 3-year-old gelding who ran on the Derby bill, is the latest horse to die at Churchill Downs in recent days.
Chloe’s Dream ran in the second race on Saturday, taking a bad step in the first turn. The horse was transported by equine ambulance with an injury to its right front knee and was euthanized, trainer Jeff Hiles confirmed to The Associated Press.
Freezing Point, a 3-year-old colt, was injured in a Derby feature race. Freezing Point suffered a left ankle injury in the Pat Day Mile and was euthanized, trainer Joe Lejzerowicz told the AP. He said Fort Bragg, which finished third, came close and ran into Freezing Point during the race.
The series of horse deaths caused confusion for some Derby-goers on a mostly cloudy and warm day.
Four horses died during the opening week of the Kentucky Derby raceChurchill Downs Racecourse, home to the crown jewel of competitive horse racing, called the deaths “highly unusual” and “completely unacceptable”.
State veterinarians were at Pletcher’s barn early Saturday to observe and examine Forte, who galloped down the track and then ran out of the barn.
Forte was riding a five-game winning streak and was a 3-1 early favorite. His jockey, Irad Ortiz Jr., will now ride Cyclone Mischief.
That leaves 18 horses to run in the 1 1/4-mile Derby. Horses will break from posts 1 to 18 of the 20-stop starting gate. Places 19 and 20 will be empty.
It was another pre-Derby disappointment for Repole.
He owned Uncle Mo, the early favorite for the 2011 Derby who was scratched the day before the race. The foal had a gastrointestinal infection and was eventually diagnosed with a rare liver disease. He resumed racing before retiring in November of that year.
Other horses scratched this week were Practical Move and Skinner, both with fever, and Continue.
Two-time Derby winner Pletcher will still ride Tapit Trice and Kingsbarns.
It is not the first time that the favorite has been scratched.
In 2019, Omaha Beach missed the race due to a trapped epiglottis, which affected his breathing. He had surgery and went racing later that year.
In 2009, I Want Revenge was scratched on Derby Day after a soft tissue injury to his left front ankle was discovered that morning.
Churchill Downs said specific bets placed before the scratch will go back to the favorite after the time. Other bets will receive consolation payouts. All other advance bets on Forte, except the future Derby bet, will be refunded.
Derby post time is just before 7pm EDT.
