Horse racing mourns the stunning demise of Maple Leaf Mel, Bill Parcells’ filly who was euthanized after struggling a catastrophic leg harm simply yards from the end line of a $500,000 race in Saratoga Springs on Saturday.
The horse led the sector and appeared assured of crossing the end line victorious, earlier than his leg gave method and jockey Joel Rosario got here out of his seat, who was taken to hospital for an examination and required stitches for facial abrasions .
Veterinarians on the scene attended to Maple Leaf Mel, however she was euthanized because of the severity of the harm, the New York Racing Association stated.
Some viewers expressed outrage on social media, with one urging, “We should ban horse racing.”
Another added: ‘Let those beautiful animals live in peace. RIP Maple Leaf Mel.’
WARNING – GRAPHIC CONTENT
Maple Leaf Mel (proper) led from the entrance in a $500,000 race Saturday at Saratoga Springs
Just yards from the end, the filly, owned by Bill Parcells, suffered a catastrophic leg harm
Maple Leaf Mel then stood up, however was later euthanized by on-site vets because of the leg harm
Maple Leaf Mel, skilled by Melanie Giddings, was 5-0 in her profession. She was owned by August Dawn Farm, which included Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Parcells, who watched the race on the monitor.
Maple Leaf Mel handed the required pre-race veterinary inspection, NYRA stated.
A required necropsy might be carried out at Cornell University and the outcomes might be analyzed by officers from the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, the New York State Equine Medical Director and NYRA management.
Pretty Mischievous received the take a look at with a lead after closing out from fifth on the prime of the stretch because the 9-5 favorite.
Winning jockey Tyler Gaffalione stated, “I feel so bad for Mel’s connections. It’s hard to enjoy this when you think about it. My condolences go out to their team. Hopefully they’ll get through this and God bless them.”
The incident is simply the newest in a string of tragic horse deaths within the sport this yr, and has sparked requires it to be banned.
As many as 12 horses have died in Churchill Downs since April, and officers have but to establish a match between the deaths.
Following the current spate of deaths, the monitor made the choice to droop all races there in June, shifting the 2023 Spring Meet to Ellis Park as a substitute.
Churchill Downs suspended racing actions for the rest of the Spring Meet in June
Seven horses died earlier than the Kentucky Derby held in Louisville on May 6
However, PETA accused the monitor of enjoying “Russian roulette” with the horses’ lives after that transfer.
“We are relieved that racing has been suspended, which PETA has been calling for since May 2, but Churchill Downs should not be allowed to play Russian roulette with the lives of these horses by simply moving the problem elsewhere,” the animal rights group stated in an announcement. to Mail Sport in June.
“Putting the bullet in another room can have the same fatal outcome. We are frustrated with the racing industry’s refusal to implement technology that has been scientifically and statistically proven to save lives.
“Until racetracks install synthetic surfaces and use CT scanning equipment to detect injuries, among other things, they can’t pretend to be mystified by fatalities.”