Horse racing-Kentucky Derby favourite Forte scratched from race (updated)

Churchill Downs

06/05/2023 15:51

(Adds details on horse deaths)
       May 6 (Reuters) - Early favourite Forte has been
scratched from the Kentucky Derby hours before post time for the
first leg of U.S. thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown due to
concerns about a bruised front foot, Churchill Downs said on
Saturday.
    The Todd Pletcher-trained dark bay colt had brought a
five-race win streak to the 1-1/4-mile Kentucky Derby at
Churchill Downs and was installed as the early 3-1 favourite.
    The decision to scratch Forte, who appeared to stumble
during a gallop earlier in the week, was made by the Kentucky
Horse Racing Commission state veterinarian.
    Forte was the fifth horse to scratch from Saturday's race,
joining Practical Move, Lord Miles, Continaur and Skinner. The
last time five horses were scratched from the Kentucky Derby was
1936 when 19 horses entered the race and 14 ran.
    Irad Ortiz Jr., who was scheduled to ride Forte, will now
accept the mount aboard Cyclone Mischief, a bay colt trained by
Dale Romans who replaced Practical Move in the field.
    The race, scheduled to begin at 6:57 p.m. ET (2257 GMT),
will now feature 18 horses and has been overshadowed by the
deaths of a number of horses in recent days. 
        
    Four deaths
     are being investigated by the Louisville racetrack, which
said it is working with regulators after imposing an indefinite
suspension on Saffie Joseph Jr., the trainer of two of the dead
horses, Parents Pride and Chasing Artie. 
  
        Two other horses died as a result of racing or training,
including Derby entrant Wild On Ice and three-year-old filly
Take Charge.
  

 (Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto, editing by Ed Osmond)
 ((frank.pingue@thomsonreuters.com; +1-647-480-7636; Reuters
Messaging: frank.pingue.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))