On May 15, 2021, the horse racing world was hit with devastating news as a Bob Baffert-trained horse named Beautiful Gift was euthanized on the Preakness undercard due to a racing injury. The four-year-old filly suffered a catastrophic injury to her left front leg during the Grade 2 $250,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland.
The incident occurred during the final turn of the race when Beautiful Gift was running in fourth place. She suddenly stumbled and fell to the ground, throwing jockey John Velazquez off her back. The medical team immediately rushed to the scene and tried to stabilize the horse, but it became clear that her injuries were too severe to be treated.
The decision to euthanize Beautiful Gift was made by her owners, Larry Best’s OXO Equine LLC, in consultation with the attending veterinarians. In a statement released after the incident, Baffert expressed his condolences and said that he was “heartbroken” by the loss of the horse.
Beautiful Gift was a promising young horse with a bright future ahead of her. She had won three of her six career starts and had earned over $200,000 in prize money. She was also a half-sister to another successful racehorse named Bast, who had won multiple graded stakes races and had earned over $1.5 million in prize money.
The incident has once again raised concerns about the safety of horse racing and the welfare of the animals involved. Horse racing is a high-risk sport, and injuries and fatalities are unfortunately not uncommon. According to data from The Jockey Club, an average of 8.9 horses die each week on racetracks in the United States.
In recent years, there have been calls for increased safety measures in horse racing, including stricter drug testing, better track surfaces, and improved veterinary care. Some have also called for a ban on the use of whips in horse racing, arguing that they can cause unnecessary pain and stress to the animals.
The incident has also put the spotlight on Bob Baffert, one of the most successful trainers in horse racing history. Baffert has won seven Kentucky Derbies, two Triple Crowns, and over 3,000 races in his career. However, he has also been involved in several controversies, including multiple drug violations and the recent disqualification of his Kentucky Derby winner, Medina Spirit, for failing a drug test.
In conclusion, the euthanization of Beautiful Gift is a tragic reminder of the risks involved in horse racing and the need for increased safety measures to protect the welfare of the animals. It is also a reminder that even the most successful trainers and owners are not immune to these risks and that more needs to be done to ensure that horse racing is a safe and humane sport for all involved.
