sport news Churchill Downs cancels races after 12 horses died in six weeks trends now
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Churchill Downs has suspended the racing operations at the track for the remainder of the 2023 Spring Meet following the deaths of 12 horses during the past six weeks.
Live racing will take place as scheduled this weekend on June 3 and 4 but following Sunday's activity the track will go dark.
The Spring Meet, which runs through July 3, will be relocated to Ellis Park, following multiple emergency meetings in Louisville this week.
Races for next Wednesday through Friday have been canceled and won't be made up with Ellis Park taking over the remainder on June 10.
The races at Ellis Park will have the same conditions and purse money that they would've at Churchill Downs, while trainers and jockeys will receive a stipend for extra costs, according to WLKY.
Churchill Downs suspended racing operations for the remainder of the Spring Meet
The announcement comes after 12 horses have died at the track since April with officials yet to be able to identify a commonality between the deaths.
Horse racing's oversight authority and Churchill Downs each announced additional safety and health measures Thursday.
The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) will conduct additional post-entry screening of horses to identify those at increased risk for injury. It will also direct its Integrity and Welfare Unit to collect blood and hair samples for all fatalities for use while investigating a cause.
Earlier Thursday, Churchill Downs announced it would immediately limit horses to four starts during a rolling eight-week period and impose ineligibility standards for poor performers.
HISA's second independent analysis of Churchill Downs' training and racing surfaces, conducted by track superintendent Dennis Moore, continues with results to be made public upon completion.
The dual announcements came just before Churchill Downs' spring meet resumed
