After 12 horse deaths over the last month, Churchill Downs is moving the remainder its spring meet to Ellis Park in Henderson.
Churchill Downs Incorporated made the announcement Friday, saying they will suspend racing operations at the Churchill Downs track in Louisville beginning June 7 through the remainder of the Spring Meet, scheduled to run to July 3.
Live racing at Churchill Downs will be conducted as scheduled June 3-4. The remainder of the race meet will be relocated to Ellis Park Racing & Gaming beginning on June 10. Churchill Downs acquired Ellis Park last year.
In the announcement, CDI said the Churchill Downs race track has seen “an unusual number” of horse injuries over the previous month, resulting in 12 equine fatalities.
CDI said a thorough internal review and concurrent investigations was conducted by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) and Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA).
“No single factor has been identified as a potential cause and no discernible pattern has been detected to link the fatalities,” the announcement reads. “Diagnostics testing of the racetrack by experts have not raised concerns and the experts have concluded that the surface is consistent with prior measurements from Churchill Downs in past years.”
Even though the investigations and expert reports have indicated no surface issues, CDI has elected “in an abundance of caution” to relocate the meet in order to conduct a review of all safety and surface protocols and integrity measures.
“What has happened at our track is deeply upsetting and absolutely unacceptable,” Bill Carstanjen, CEO of CDI. “Despite our best efforts to identify a cause for the recent horse injuries, and though no issues have been linked to our racing surfaces or environment at Churchill Downs, we need to take more time to conduct a top-to-bottom review of all of the details and circumstances so that we can further strengthen our surface, safety and integrity protocols.”
Rick Hiles, President of the Kentucky HBPA, expressed dismay with Churchill Down’s decision to move the remainder of their current meet to Ellis Park.
“Horsemen question the purpose of this unprecedented step, especially without conclusive evidence that there is a problem with the racetrack at Churchill Downs,” a statement from Hiles reads. “We all want to find solutions that will improve safety for horses. However, we need to discuss allowing trainers and veterinarians to use therapeutic medications that greatly lessen the risk of breakdowns. Drastic steps, such as relocating an active race meet, should only be considered when it is certain to make a difference.”
Carstanjen said Churchill Downs has “an immense responsibility as the economic engine of the Thoroughbred industry in Kentucky which provides jobs and income for thousands of families every day,” and the by relocating the remainder of the meet to Ellis Park they “are able to maintain this industry ecosystem with only minor disruption.”
Ellis Park traditionally hosts a summer race meet in Kentucky that is scheduled from July 7 to August 27, 2023. The new safety initiatives announced by Churchill Downs earlier this week will remain in effect for the remainder of this meet at Ellis Park.
