3 race horses die in a day at Wyoming Downs

Tragic scenes at the region's horse racing venue. Photo: Mathew Schwartz

EVANSTON, Wyo. — FOX 13 has reported that three race horses sustained catastrophic limb injuries and had to be euthanized on the track in front of a horrified and heartbroken crowd of spectators in the grand stands on the weekend of June 17-18.

The sad occurrences happened over the course of one day, where multiple races are run throughout any given race day. The three horses died in three different races. 

Despite best efforts, horses have no medical advancements with which to heal leg injuries, as non-weightbearing is simply not a veterinary prescribable course of treatment for them.  

Owner of Wyoming Downs, Eric Nelson, said to the Salt Lake City reporter that it’s the first case in his 25 years at the track where three horses have gone down in one day. He said they are thoroughly investigating the cause of the horses’ injuries, with analysts surveying the track, investigators interviewing jockeys and trainers, and state veterinarians analyzing the horses.

The Kentucky Derby venue, Churchill Downs, has suspended racing operations pending answers from an investigation as to why 12 horses have died there this spring.

Even though Evanston’s Wyoming Downs is the only horserace track in the region, live streaming, and off track betting brings the Intermountain West racing enthusiasts together via various mediums.  

During the NBC broadcast of this years’s Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May, famed retired jockey-turned-commentator Jerry Bailey said that it’s the only job he knows of where an ambulance follows right behind you. He expressed concerned for the horses health and well being.