This past Saturday at Saratoga Race Course, an undefeated colt named New York Thunder was just strides from winning a $500,000 stakes race when he stumbled and unseated his rider.
New York Thunder had to be put down after shattering his left front fetlock.
It was the 12th horse fatality — the eighth while racing — at the Saratoga summer meet.
In the wake of the deaths, New York racing officials have vowed to spend millions on PET and CT scans and outfit horses with sensors in the hopes of diagnosing pre-existing injuries before they become fatal.
And a synthetic racing surface, which equine injury data shows to be significantly safer than dirt and turf tracks, is being installed for winter racing at Belmont Park and is being considered for both Aqueduct and Saratoga.
Persons:
Tyler Gaffalione
Organizations:
Saratoga, New York Thunder, Kentucky Derby, Belmont
Locations:
New, Churchill, New York, Saratoga