Lord Miles scratched from Kentucky Derby, trainer suspended indefinitely
As Churchill Downs investigates the recent deaths of several racehorses, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. was suspended indefinitely by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission prior to Saturday's annual running of the Kentucky Derby. His horse, Lord Miles, was subsequently scratched from the race.
After his suspension was announced, Joseph told WDRB (Louisville) reporter Conroy Delouche that he felt he was being used as a scapegoat by the commission, offering that he was told nothing was wrong with his horses.
In the past week, four horses were either euthanized or had collapsed during turf races. The two that collapsed, Parents Pride and Chasing Artie, were owned by Joseph, who previously told the Associated Press that he was concerned about running Lord Miles in the Derby. He had pulled other horses who may have had contact with those that died out of races leading up to the Derby.
A suspension raises questions about decisions Joseph made about the horses in his stable. On the other hand, as Joseph alleges, while Churchill Downs tries to show the world that it's being proactive amid another scandal, it's an uphill climb for race organizers to protect its image when considering the sordid history of the sport. It'll be some time before details of any investigation emerge, but hopefully they'll shed light on what led to these deaths and reveal the full, unblemished truth.
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