Barbadian horse trainer Saffie Joseph Jr has been indefinitely suspended at Churchill Downs, after 2 of his horses died suddenly at the track this week.
In addition, the colt Lord Miles, which the Miami-based Joseph trains, has been scratched from the Kentucky Derby, scheduled for Saturday.
In a release Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) noted “the suspension prohibits Joseph, or any trainer directly or indirectly employed by Joseph, from entering horses in races or applying for stall occupancy at all CDI-owned racetracks”.
The CDI says the decision comes after the “highly unusual” sudden deaths of the 2 horses – Parents Pride died on Saturday and Chasing Artie on Tuesday.
President and Chief Operating Officer of CDI Bil Mudd says there are reasonable concerns about the condition of Joseph’s horses, the decision was made to suspend him until details are analysed and understood.
Meanwhile, in an interview with CNN, Joseph said he was “uneasy and broken”, and that no significant findings had been made as yet.
Churchill Downs also revealed that two other horses – not trained by Joseph – also died after suffering musculoskeletal injuries.
One horse, Wild on Ice, was hurt while training last Thursday and the other, Take Charge Briana, was injured in a race on Tuesday. Both were euthanised.
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