Horse dies after collision at Churchill Downs
A horse has died in Kentucky after an accident at Churchill Downs racetrack at the start of Kentucky Derby Week.
Unraced two-year-old filly Raspberry Kiss was put down after she was run into by another horse during an early morning training session on Monday 27 March.
Three-year-old Doctor Rap threw his jockey, Tony Farina, as he jumped out the stalls. The horse then bolted along the stretch at the racecourse.
He then collided with Raspberry Kiss who was standing with a group of horses preparing to exercise in front of several hundred fans.
The filly was sent to Rood and Riddle Equine hospital but was later put down with broken hip.
Her trainer Kenny McPeek later described her as “one of his best two-year-olds”.
Doctor Rap, trained by David Carroll, has not broken any bones but is being tested for possible nerve damage or deep bone bruising at Hagyard Equine Medical Institution in Lexington.
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Neither horse was a Derby or Oaks contender but nine Kentucky Derby horses and the favourite for the Kentucky Oaks were on the racecourse preparing for the races next weekend (Friday 1 May and Saturday 2 May) that morning.
Top US trainer Bob Baffert was there watching his Derby contender Pioneer Of The Nile work.
He told US press: “The horse was just barreling down the track and nobody had time to scatter. It was just horrible.”
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