A string of racehorse deaths has prompted the fabled Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky to cease racing effective June 7th.
The suspension will continue throughout the Spring Meet schedule. according to a statement from the circuit.
Last month, 12 horses died at the Kentucky Derby venue.
“What happened on our route is deeply disturbing and absolutely unacceptable,” Churchill Downs Incorporated CEO Bill Carstanjen said in a statement. “While we are making every effort to determine the cause of the recent horse injuries, and while no problems have been linked to our racing surfaces or the Churchill Downs area, we need to take more time to thoroughly investigate everything.” the details and circumstances so we can continue to strengthen our surface, security and integrity protocols.”
The situation is reminiscent of a similar plan by the adjacent Santa Anita Park in Los Angeles, which was closed indefinitely after 21 horses died at the storied Southern California venue in a 10-week period. The facility was closed for more than a year before reopening in 2021.
Churchill Downs said in its press release that the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority found that “no single factor was identified as a potential cause and no discernible pattern was identified linking the fatalities.”
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals called for Churchill Downs to be closed, calling the facility a “killing field”.