With the Derby a bit over a week away, Churchill Downs wrestles with another PR nightmare – a dead racehorse, that is. Valley of Fire, three, broke both of his front legs training yesterday and (of course) was euthanized. Again, that’s both front legs. Said Churchill Medical Director Will Farmer (NBC Louisville): “Gut wrenching. Absolutely gut wrenching.” How about the 20 kills at this track last year, Mr. Farmer – or the 44 at other KY tracks? How would you describe any one of these? Are they, too, “absolutely gut wrenching,” or is that just reserved for the tiny fraction reported in the press? Disgusting.
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Patrick, I just posted an article about this on LinkedIn. Once again, thanks to you and all the supporters of HW for your unwavering support for these wonderful animals.
There is a short video from WAVE News reporting on the aftermath of VALLEY OF FIRE breaking both front legs. The video shows him standing still on the track with his chin and mouth appearing to be in the dirt. He is standing on his broken front legs and on his hind feet. It’s very strange and they show the veterinarian saying that it’s gut wrenching and attempts to make it sound like they are going to do something different or at least take a look at what they are doing and maybe do something different but not really because at the end of the day, it’s back to business as usual.
The baby horse Bo Derek was talked about all day because of her namesake. Then the horror caught on camera when the race was on because they were focused on her winning the race. No comment from the namesake after the race and opinions disappeared. It was a sad sad sight to be seen…just like all of them.
Remember the horse Bo Derek…only TWO….broke both front legs in a race at Gulfstream….on TURF no less. todd pletcher was her trainer.
This horror story did not escape the media. WDRB has a video of the aftermath for the poor horse. GOOD for them.
You Didn’t See Anything Yet Wait Until You See Bob Baffert, Brad Cox & Saffie Joseph, Jr Top 3 Drug Boys Run On KY Derby 2025 Day!
Under “Workouts” for VALLEY OF FIRE, his fastest time in the three workouts listed at Churchill Downs was on April 24, 2025. It was a 4 Furlong workout. The racing industry press article didn’t mention the word workout; they just said training.
It’s disgusting that they pushed him so hard at such a young age and that they are advertising his sire on Equibase as well. It’s disgusting that they are downplaying the number of training kills at Churchill Downs and claiming that they now have to report training kills because of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority rules. In the article, they say they didn’t have to report training kills in the past.
Who knows how many young and underdeveloped colts and fillies were not only fatally injured but also injured badly enough that they were permanently lamed and unsound?
Who knows how many young Thoroughbreds are injured at Churchill Downs in such a way that they are no longer viable racehorses and shipped out of the United States?
I don’t think HISA wants anyone to be reporting that kind of information.
But, after emphasizing how gut wrenching the breaking of both front legs of this doomed young Thoroughbred gelding was, and making sure that they say they did the best thing for him by euthanizing him, it’s time to move on. Yeah, business as usual.