Kentucky Derby contender Wild On Ice fatally injured

[Opti]

while training for the Kentucky Derby.

No no no no x 1000  

Kentucky Derby contender Wild On Ice, shown working at Churchill Downs April 21, suffered a fatal injury during exercise Thursday. Coady Photography, courtesy of Churchill Downs

© Churchill Downs


April 28 (UPI) -- Wild On Ice suffered a fatal injury Thursday at Churchill Downs while training for the Kentucky Derby, layering sadness onto the normal backstretch tensions and nerves with the Run for the Roses just more than a week away.

[Artemis Windsong]

Heartbreaking.

[busymom]

I just hate it when they have to put a horse down.  They are so majestic!  

[Opti]

Apr 29, 2023 14:04:00 GMT -5 busymom said:

I just hate it when they have to put a horse down.  They are so majestic!  

Made me think of Barbaro (sp?)  This is better than the horse not wanting to go on. 

[Deleted]

This is why I can no longer watch racing.  

[jerseygirl]

DIL has horses - dressage
There are many injuries and medical issues. Really difficult to raise animals

[Deleted]

Apr 29, 2023 17:20:46 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

DIL has horses - dressage
There are many injuries and medical issues. Really difficult to raise animals

Like all competitive athletes, they are vulnerable to injuries.  I have also shied away from the racing industry because of the doping issues.  If you pump enough drugs into a horse, it will not feel the pain and continue to perform until it's not cost-effective for the owner.  Although the slaughter of equines for meat has been reduced, it still exists and live animals are often shipped out of country to areas where it is still legal.  The dam of one of my horses was purchased for $0.19 per pound at a livestock auction.  She was an incredible athlete and, unbeknownst to anyone, pregnant.  Another horse I road regularly was a thoroughbred race retiree who had a solid 1st and 2nd place record.  We quickly learned he was an outstanding pleasure horse as long as he could follow-he would never, under any circumstance, pass another horse.  

[tallguy]

Apr 29, 2023 17:30:34 GMT -5 soupandstew said:

Apr 29, 2023 17:20:46 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

DIL has horses - dressage
There are many injuries and medical issues. Really difficult to raise animals

Like all competitive athletes, they are vulnerable to injuries.  I have also shied away from the racing industry because of the doping issues.  If you pump enough drugs into a horse, it will not feel the pain and continue to perform until it's not cost-effective for the owner.  Although the slaughter of equines for meat has been reduced, it still exists and live animals are often shipped out of country to areas where it is still legal.  The dam of one of my horses was purchased for $0.19 per pound at a livestock auction.  She was an incredible athlete and, unbeknownst to anyone, pregnant.  Another horse I road regularly was a thoroughbred race retiree who had a solid 1st and 2nd place record.  We quickly learned he was an outstanding pleasure horse as long as he could follow-he would never, under any circumstance, pass another horse.  

That's not a particularly good trait for a thoroughbred to have....  

[Opti]

Apr 29, 2023 17:20:46 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

DIL has horses - dressage
There are many injuries and medical issues. Really difficult to raise animals

Dressage is a fascinating sport. Lots of training and truly a horse and rider sport. It's expensive, but so is raising humans.

We now have wickedly expensive mechanical horse replacements aka cars. Low end cars now retail new for more than many people gross in an entire year. Sadly, equestrian sports are generally for the rich or the lucky. *She says wistfully)

[Deleted]

Apr 29, 2023 18:03:56 GMT -5 tallguy said:

Apr 29, 2023 17:30:34 GMT -5 soupandstew said:

Like all competitive athletes, they are vulnerable to injuries.  I have also shied away from the racing industry because of the doping issues.  If you pump enough drugs into a horse, it will not feel the pain and continue to perform until it's not cost-effective for the owner.  Although the slaughter of equines for meat has been reduced, it still exists and live animals are often shipped out of country to areas where it is still legal.  The dam of one of my horses was purchased for $0.19 per pound at a livestock auction.  She was an incredible athlete and, unbeknownst to anyone, pregnant.  Another horse I road regularly was a thoroughbred race retiree who had a solid 1st and 2nd place record.  We quickly learned he was an outstanding pleasure horse as long as he could follow-he would never, under any circumstance, pass another horse.  

That's not a particularly good trait for a thoroughbred to have....  

But that trait is what saved him because he had a solid $$ earning history without causing himself serious injury on the track.  He would have been an incredible trail horse too but he was scared of his own shadow.  We were a perfect pair-I spent so much time trying to get him past his fears, that I forgot my own fears.  You just had to sink deep and relax so you would go with him, while holding on tight because he would literally blow up if a frog hopped or a bug flew.  That horse could go backwards faster than he went forward.  And I rode English saddle so no horn to grab on to.  The time we rode past an old hunting blind and an owl flew out of it was the fastest speed I've ever ridden because he ran with all the speed his breeding gave him.  At that point there's not much you can do but try to sit it and wait until the brain kicks in again and overrides the flight instinct.  

[busymom]

I once got to meet a "grandson" of Secretariat.  Yes, THAT Secretariat.  This horse was beautiful, but was given to an animal rescue organization due to the owner no longer being able to afford him.  He was absolutely stunning, and big for a thoroughbred, like his grandpa.  

[Opti]

Apr 29, 2023 18:54:06 GMT -5 busymom said:

I once got to meet a "grandson" of Secretariat.  Yes, THAT Secretariat.  This horse was beautiful, but was given to an animal rescue organization due to the owner no longer being able to afford him.  He was absolutely stunning, and big for a thoroughbred, like his grandpa.  

Jealous. I want to go to one of the Triple Crown races in person one day, even if I have to sit in the cheap seats. I just want to see what isn't televised on TV and maybe even watch the horses exercise or something. 

[Opti]

Apr 29, 2023 18:22:43 GMT -5 soupandstew said:

Apr 29, 2023 18:03:56 GMT -5 tallguy said:

That's not a particularly good trait for a thoroughbred to have....  

But that trait is what saved him because he had a solid $$ earning history without causing himself serious injury on the track.  He would have been an incredible trail horse too but he was scared of his own shadow.  We were a perfect pair-I spent so much time trying to get him past his fears, that I forgot my own fears.  You just had to sink deep and relax so you would go with him, while holding on tight because he would literally blow up if a frog hopped or a bug flew.  That horse could go backwards faster than he went forward.  And I rode English saddle so no horn to grab on to.  The time we rode past an old hunting blind and an owl flew out of it was the fastest speed I've ever ridden because he ran with all the speed his breeding gave him.  At that point there's not much you can do but try to sit it and wait until the brain kicks in again and overrides the flight instinct.  

He could trot backwards at speed? I hope he had a very smooth canter and gallop.

[tallguy]

Apr 29, 2023 18:54:06 GMT -5 busymom said:

I once got to meet a "grandson" of Secretariat.  Yes, THAT Secretariat.  This horse was beautiful, but was given to an animal rescue organization due to the owner no longer being able to afford him.  He was absolutely stunning, and big for a thoroughbred, like his grandpa.  

I used to go to the racetrack quite a bit as a teenager, starting at maybe 14.  It was a little awkward in high school when a couple of the teachers (including one of mine) had jobs at the windows either after school or during the summer.   

Went down once when Seattle Slew was brought to the track for a couple days.  He never raced there, but he did parade in front of the crowd and gallop the track.  It wasn't a race, and he wasn't going hard, but still a bit thrilling to watch him out there. 

And Secretariat's race at the Belmont may be still the single most impressive sporting performance I've ever seen.   

[irishpad]

Haven't read the whole therad.  Just saying if I was a horse, I would have been put down about 7 times already.  lol    Went to sminary in the Louisville area.  The Kentucky Derby is a great social event.  

[minnesotapaintlady]

Apr 29, 2023 18:54:06 GMT -5 busymom said:

I once got to meet a "grandson" of Secretariat.  Yes, THAT Secretariat.  This horse was beautiful, but was given to an animal rescue organization due to the owner no longer being able to afford him.  He was absolutely stunning, and big for a thoroughbred, like his grandpa.  

Secretariat's first foal was born just a few miles from my house to an Appaloosa mare back in 1974.  I was pretty young, but my mom and aunt were friends with the owner and I remember going to see him when he was little.  It was a pretty huge deal around here back then.

mn70s.tumblr.com/post/12828683506/secretariats-minnesota-progeny

[busymom]

Apr 29, 2023 19:22:49 GMT -5 Opti said:

Apr 29, 2023 18:54:06 GMT -5 busymom said:

I once got to meet a "grandson" of Secretariat.  Yes, THAT Secretariat.  This horse was beautiful, but was given to an animal rescue organization due to the owner no longer being able to afford him.  He was absolutely stunning, and big for a thoroughbred, like his grandpa.  

Jealous. I want to go to one of the Triple Crown races in person one day, even if I have to sit in the cheap seats. I just want to see what isn't televised on TV and maybe even watch the horses exercise or something. 

     Seeing the Kentucky Derby in person is definitely on my bucket list. Even if I have to wear a silly-looking hat to do it.  

[minnesotapaintlady]

Apr 29, 2023 20:15:10 GMT -5 tallguy said:

And Secretariat's race at the Belmont may be still the single most impressive sporting performance I've ever seen.   

Rich Strike at the KY Derby in 2022 wasn't the blowout that Secretariat had at the Belmont, but still pretty impressive to see for the long shot.  There was a Facebook post that went viral after the race...

Y’all wanna teach your kids a life lesson in 2 minutes? Show them the replay to the Ky Derby Race.
1. Not the best starting position
2. Not the biggest or best horse
3. Only made it into the race on account of another horse having to scratch
4. $30,000 horse against multi million dollar horse.
It ain’t always about having the best of everything or being the biggest and favored. It’s about the size of heart and dedication to win and excel in everything you do!
Well done Rich Strike

[irishpad]

Apr 29, 2023 23:08:24 GMT -5 busymom said:

Apr 29, 2023 19:22:49 GMT -5 Opti said:

Jealous. I want to go to one of the Triple Crown races in person one day, even if I have to sit in the cheap seats. I just want to see what isn't televised on TV and maybe even watch the horses exercise or something. 

     Seeing the Kentucky Derby in person is definitely on my bucket list. Even if I have to wear a silly-looking hat to do it.  

I kinda ticked that off of my list.  As a seminary student, was there in 1989, but in the "inside track" area.  ( I forget what they actually call it , but the area inside the track.   Can't actually see much of the race, but a great party site.  lol )  Two years before during "Derby Week" witnessed the riverboat race (fake "race" between a riverboats from Cincinatti and Louiville) at a riverfront home .   They know how to party down there.    Have a parishioner here who is from there.  She complimented me in in how I correctly pronounce Louisville (you swallow the vowels as you way it)

[tallguy]

Apr 30, 2023 1:32:38 GMT -5 irishpad said:

Apr 29, 2023 23:08:24 GMT -5 busymom said:

     Seeing the Kentucky Derby in person is definitely on my bucket list. Even if I have to wear a silly-looking hat to do it.  

I kinda ticked that off of my list.  As a seminary student, was there in 1989, but in the "inside track" area.  ( I forget what they actually call it , but the area inside the track.   Can't actually see much of the race, but a great party site.  lol )  Two years before during "Derby Week" witnessed the riverboat race (fake "race" between a riverboats from Cincinatti and Louiville) at a riverfront home .   They know how to party down there.    Have a parishioner here who is from there.  She complimented me in in how I correctly pronounce Louisville (you swallow the vowels as you way it)

The infield?

[Opti]

Apr 29, 2023 23:08:24 GMT -5 busymom said:

Apr 29, 2023 19:22:49 GMT -5 Opti said:

Jealous. I want to go to one of the Triple Crown races in person one day, even if I have to sit in the cheap seats. I just want to see what isn't televised on TV and maybe even watch the horses exercise or something. 

     Seeing the Kentucky Derby in person is definitely on my bucket list. Even if I have to wear a silly-looking hat to do it.  

and sip mint juleps.

[Opti]

Apr 29, 2023 23:16:14 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Apr 29, 2023 20:15:10 GMT -5 tallguy said:

And Secretariat's race at the Belmont may be still the single most impressive sporting performance I've ever seen.   

Rich Strike at the KY Derby in 2022 wasn't the blowout that Secretariat had at the Belmont, but still pretty impressive to see for the long shot.  There was a Facebook post that went viral after the race...

Y’all wanna teach your kids a life lesson in 2 minutes? Show them the replay to the Ky Derby Race.
1. Not the best starting position
2. Not the biggest or best horse
3. Only made it into the race on account of another horse having to scratch
4. $30,000 horse against multi million dollar horse.
It ain’t always about having the best of everything or being the biggest and favored. It’s about the size of heart and dedication to win and excel in everything you do!
Well done Rich Strike

I watched that live on one of the major TV channelings streaming from my laptop. Amazing race. Exceptional job by both the horse and jockey to not lose hope and fight until the end. It is not over until you cross the finish line. 
(And even then ... for horses there are other races and stud , broodmare opportunities. I'm sure you know this MPL. Just confessing what I know from my love and reading on the great horses. )

Appaloosa mare. Did not know that. They are my favorite horse, but sometimes I think the right rescue mustang might be the horse for me ...

[Works4me]

Apr 30, 2023 1:32:38 GMT -5 irishpad said:

Apr 29, 2023 23:08:24 GMT -5 busymom said:

     Seeing the Kentucky Derby in person is definitely on my bucket list. Even if I have to wear a silly-looking hat to do it.  

I kinda ticked that off of my list.  As a seminary student, was there in 1989, but in the "inside track" area.  ( I forget what they actually call it , but the area inside the track.   Can't actually see much of the race, but a great party site.  lol )  Two years before during "Derby Week" witnessed the riverboat race (fake "race" between a riverboats from Cincinatti and Louiville) at a riverfront home .   They know how to party down there.    Have a parishioner here who is from there.  She complimented me in in how I correctly pronounce Louisville (you swallow the vowels as you way it)

Never thought to ask seminary students where to party - future note to self...

[irishpad]

tallguy   Yep infield.   I was posting at 2 in the morning, my mind wasn't working during the brief time I was awake.   It was a fun time in the infield.  I can't remember if we had to pay much to get in, but if so, nothing like seat tickets.   Good party for sure .



Works4me , I'm Catholic.   We aren't shy about partying.  lol.    My "workstudy" job at the seminary was at the on campus pub.   served wine & beer, pizzas popcorn and strombolies  Know how to tap a keg in 5 seconds.   In Indiana, (where the seminary was at) they required all bartenders to have a state license.   Thus many times I got side jobs bartending at wedding receptions, company parties, etc..  was a good gig