Page 16 - aruba-today-20230509

A16 SPORTS
Tuesday 9 May 2023
What is horse racing doing to prevent catastrophic injuries?

By BETH HARRIS TERNATIVES?
AP Racing Writer Costs for surgery or other
The deaths of seven horses treatments can be con-
at the home of the Ken- siderably high, although
tucky Derby has intensified deep-pocketed owners of
the debate over the safety expensive thoroughbreds
of horse racing. will often go to extreme
Two of the deaths oc- lengths to preserve their in-
curred as the result of race vestment.
injuries on Derby day, when Even with treatment, a
more than 150,000 people horse’s chances of com-
jammed Churchill Downs. plete recovery can be slim.
“While each incident re- In order to spare the animal
ported has been unique, additional pain and stress,
it is important to note that it is usually euthanized.
there has been no discern- WHAT IS RACING DOING TO
ible pattern detected in ADDRESS INJURIES?
the injuries sustained,” the Whether it’s everyday rac-
track said in a statement es or the Triple Crown series
that called the incidents Kentucky Derby, Preak-
“unacceptable.” Mage (8), with Javier Castellano aboard, wins the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race ness and Belmont horses
at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 6, 2023, in Louisville, Ky.
In recent years, the indus- Associated Press undergo multiple, com-
try has instituted a series of prehensive vet exams and
veterinary and medication ers to learn the cause and died in races from 2009-21. timed workout or simply observations to ensure their
reforms, which led to the what, if anything, could The large animals’ spindly walk several laps around fitness to run.Researchers at
fatality rate dropping. have been done to pre- legs take a lot of concus- the inside of their barn. the University of Kentucky
Here’s a look at what horse vent it. sive force. They’re also bathed and are working to identify a
racing is doing to try to pre- “It’s hard to explain and WHY ARE HORSES EUTHA- groomed. screening tool that can be
vent injuries and deaths. say it’s going to happen NIZED AFTER A LIMB INJURY? Besides being resistant to used before races to iden-
HOW COMMON ARE INJU- once in a while,” said A leg injury in a horse can having their legs restricted, tify horses at increased risk
RIES AND DEATHS? Mike Repole, co-owner of lead to complications as horses can develop pres- of injury. Funding for the
The deaths at Churchill scratched early Kentucky the other legs try to bear sure ulcers if they lie down study was provided by the
Downs gained greater at- Derby favorite Forte, “but the pressure of an animal too long. Horses sleep Kentucky Horse Racing
tention because they oc- the reality is, unfortunately, that weighs about 1,100 standing up and don’t wor- Commission’s Equine Drug
curred in the week leading it’s going to happen once pounds. The bones in the ry about falling because of Research Council.
up to the Kentucky Derby. in a while.” leg don’t just break, they a system of tendons and The research involves ana-
There have been spates of California and New York often shatter completely, ligaments that allow them lyzing blood samples from
deaths in recent years, most have public databases making it extremely difficult to lock the major joints in racehorses — both injured
notably 30 at Santa Anita in that catalogue equine in- to repair or restore to their their legs. If a horse cannot and non-injured — at tracks
California in 2019. Those led juries and fatalities; Ken- original form. move its legs, the animal’s nationwide to see if there
to a series of safety reforms tucky does not. According Unlike humans who can be blood circulation dimin- are changes in messenger
that spread nationally. Pro- to a database kept by the put on bedrest, horses are ishes. Being confined to RNA and whether there’s
tocol requires a necropsy Jockey Club, which over- meant to spend most of one place for an extended anything that consistently
when a horse dies on-track, sees the breed registry for their time moving. period of time can affect differentiates horses that
and a review of contribut- thoroughbreds in the Unit- Horses at the track are a horse’s mental health as suffer a catastrophic injury,
ing factors, vet records and ed States and Canada, brought out of their stalls well. according to a 2021 article
interviews with stakehold- more than 7,200 horses daily to either race, do a ARE THERE TREATMENT AL- in Trainer magazine. q

Colts owner warns NFL teams about tampering with Andrew Luck

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The keep the full $24.8 million onship game in early 2022,
Indianapolis Colts want in bonus money instead the No. 1 overall draft pick
other NFL teams to know of trying to collect some in 2012 appeared to have
they consider contacting of that money. So Irsay re- slimmed down significantly
former quarterback An- sponded with a warning. “If from his playing weight of
drew Luck or his represen- any NFL Team attempted 240 pounds. He’s shown
tatives to be tampering. to contact Andrew Luck no interest in making a
Team owner Jim Irsay (or any associate of him)… comeback even as the
made it clear in a Twitter to play for their Franchise it Colts spent years search-
post late Sunday night fol- would be a clear Violation ing for Luck’s replacement.
lowing a weekend report of the League’s Tampering Whomever starts this year’s
from ESPN that the Wash- Policy,” Irsay wrote. season opener will be the
ington Commanders at- A message left by The Asso- seventh different starter in
tempted to find out in 2022 ciated Press seeking com- seven years for Indy.
whether the four-time Pro ment from the NFL was not The report came less than
Bowler would consider immediately returned. two weeks after Indy draft-
making a comeback. Luck Luck has shown no indica- ed former Florida star An-
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck shakes hands with
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay after a news conference retired abruptly in August tion he wants to play again thony Richardson with the
following the team’s NFL preseason football game against the 2019 at age 29 with three and when he returned to No. 4 overall pick, hopeful
Chicago Bears, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019, in Indianapolis. years left on his contract. Lucas Oil Stadium for the he’ll be the new franchise
Associated Press Irsay even allowed Luck to college football champi- quarterback.q