Ella Marrufo
Culture Editor
Prior to the 149th Kentucky Derby, seven horses died in the week leading up to the race at Churchill Downs. The horses’ injuries varied in severity from fractured knees and ankles to broken legs and necks. Two horses, Take Charge Briana and Chasing Artie, collapsed on the raceway and were proclaimed dead, while others were euthanized after officials learned of the gravity of their injuries. On May 14, an eighth horse, Rio Moon, died at the same race track. The three-year-old colt “suffered a catastrophic injury to his left foreleg a few strides after the wire,” according to the Equibase chart for the race, and was also euthanized soon after the incident. These unfortunate and traumatic deaths sparked criticism about the cruelty of the horse racing industry and raised questions regarding safety and ethics.