Kentucky Derby 2023: A Seventh Horse Dies at Churchill Downs

Freezing Point is the seventh horse to die at Churchill Downs in Louisville ahead of the 149th annual Kentucky Derby on Saturday.

The three-year-old colt, trained by Joe Lejzerowicz, suffered a left ankle injury during the backstretch of the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile and was euthanized. Lejzerowicz told the Associated Press that Fort Bragg came over and slammed into Freezing Point during the race.

“He [Freezing Point] just got bumped in the backstretch,” Lejzerowicz said. “He never took a bad step or bobble. He had a big heart.”

Dr. Al Ruggles, an on-call veterinarian for the American Association of Equine Practitioners, said on the NBC broadcast that Freezing Point was placed in an ambulance and taken to the Churchill medical center for more examination by his private veterinarian roughly an hour before his death, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader.

Freezing Point, who was ridden by jockey Corey Lanerie, marked the second horse death on Saturday leading up to the 1 1/4-mile race. Earlier in the day, another horse ridden by Lanerie, Chloe’s Dream, was vanned off and euthanized after not finishing the second race on Saturday because of a right front knee injury.

The three-year-old gelding began to pull up while coming into the first turn. The horse was“allowed to settle, tucked in to save ground, went wrong leaving the first turn, pulled up and was vanned off”, according to the Equibase race report.

Wild on Ice, who was also a Derby contender, was euthanized following an accident in training last week. However, the deaths of Freezing Point and Chloe’s Dream came hours after the favorite to win the Kentucky Derby, Forte, was removed from the race due to a bruised foot.

As of now, the Herald-Leader reported that officials at Churchill Downs have not commented on the recent horse deaths.