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American horseracing not 'designed with the horse in mind,' trainer says in light of Kentucky Derby deaths

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The spotlight should have been on Mage for winning the 149th Kentucky Derby on May 6. But the deaths of several otherhorses have overshadowed the event itself, and raised concerns about horses' safety and welfare in the sport.

Twelve horses at Churchill Downs, the home of the world-famous horse race, were euthanized in the weeks leading up to and following the derby, due to injuries suffered either in races or training sessions.

The deaths include horses Chloe's Dream and Freezing Point, who suffered injuries in undercard races.

The deaths have prompted the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority to announce additional safety and health measures, such as additional post-entry screenings of horses to identify those with increased risk for injury. It will also direct its Integrity and Welfare Unit to collect blood and hair samples for all fatalities for use in investigations.

Churchill Downs also announced it will immediately limit horses to four starts during a rolling eight-week period, and impose ineligibility standards for poor performers.

But these deaths aren't a rare occurance; hundreds of thoroughbreds die worldwide at race tracks every year, according to The Jockey Club's Equine Injury Database.

American Gina Rarick has been a thoroughbred racehorse trainer for 15 years, but she's currently working in France. She said she is troubled by the way horseracing is conducted in the United States.

"If racing were the way racing is in Europe [or] everywhere in the world, it would be fantastic," she told The Current's Matt Galloway. 

"I don't think the American system is designed with the horse in mind. Huge changes need to be made, but I don't know that the industry will wake up and make them

Read more on cbc.ca