An equine ambulance arrives at Churchill Downs throughout the Kentucky Derby on Saturday in Louisville, Ky.

Michael Reaves/Getty Images

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Michael Reaves/Getty Images

An equine ambulance arrives at Churchill Downs throughout the Kentucky Derby on Saturday in Louisville, Ky.

Michael Reaves/Getty Images

The 149th Kentucky Derby could also be over, however questions on what led to a string of horse fatalities at its famed observe have simply begun.

Over the previous week, a complete of seven horses died within the lead-up to the ultimate race on Saturday — prompting an investigation into the deaths and fueling outrage from animal rights activists.

The disturbing dying toll seen at Churchill Downs, house of the Kentucky Derby, is the most recent scandal to hit the horse race business regardless of recent efforts to make the game safer for animals.

Joseph Grove of the group Animal Wellness Action mentioned the dying toll was alarming.

“As a native Louisvillian, I get the passion people here and across the country feel about this iconic race,” Grove mentioned in a press release. “But the care of the horses must be our first priority, and this cluster of horse deaths is startling. Lamentations are not enough.”

Here’s what to know:

Four out of the seven horses had been euthanized after sustaining accidents

The first dying occurred on April 29. Code of Kings, a 3-year-old gelding, repeatedly stored flipping and broke his neck earlier than a race, his coach, Tim Glyshaw, advised Daily Racing Form. Glyshaw added that his horse seemed to be fixated on the lights at a close-by DJ sales space previous to turning over.

On Tuesday, a horse named Take Charge Briana was euthanized after getting harm throughout a race. Two days later, one other horse, Wild on Ice, was additionally euthanized following an damage throughout coaching, Louisville Public Media reported.

Two horses, Parents Pride and Chasing Artie, additionally died this previous week below mysterious circumstances, Churchill Downs mentioned. Their coach, Saffie Joseph Jr., has been suspended indefinitely for the “unexplained sudden deaths.”

On Saturday, two extra horses, Chloe’s Dream and Freezing Point, had been euthanized after sustaining racing accidents which appeared irrecoverable.

Chloe’s Dream, who competed within the second race of the day, suffered from a proper entrance knee damage, coach Jeff Hiles advised The Associated Press. Freezing Point’s left ankle was badly harm throughout the eighth race, coach Joe Lejzerowicz advised the AP.

Kentucky racing officers launch investigation into deaths

Churchill Downs described every horse fatality as “unique” — including that there was “no discernable pattern detected in the injuries sustained.”

Still, the group mentioned it’ll accomplice with Kentucky Horseracing Commission and the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority to analyze the incidents and learn to enhance the protection of the game.

“We will rigorously work to understand what caused these incidents,” Churchill Downs mentioned in a statement.

The University of Kentucky shall be conducting autopsy examinations on the racehorses, mentioned Kristin Voskuhl, a spokesperson for the Public Protection Cabinet which incorporates the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.

“The KHRC is committed to the health and safety of every horse and rider and will follow the robust investigative procedures in place for issues of safety and racing integrity,” Voskukl mentioned in a press release, Louisville Public Media reported.