Filly dies following collision at Churchill Downs

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Raspberry Miss, a 2-year-old filly, died Monday following a collision with another horse at Churchill Downs.

The filly trained by Ken McPeek was standing near the finish line during a training session Monday morning when Doctor Rap dumped jockey Tony Farina and took off. Doctor Rap, a 3-year-old colt trained by David Carroll, ran into the back of Raspberry Miss, sending both horses to the ground.

Raspberry Miss was taken to Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington with multiple fractures and lacerations in her pelvis. Veterinarian Larry Bramlage recommended she be euthanized, but the filly died from shock before being administered an injection.

“The fractures were caused from the fall and the other horse landing on top of her,” Bramlage said. “She just fell awkwardly.”

Doctor Rap was transported to Hagyard Equine Medical Institute with non-life threatening injuries. Carroll said Farina was not hurt but did not know the identity or the status of the rider on Raspberry Miss.

Several horses training for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby were on the track at the time of the incident but were not affected.

“It’s just bad luck,” Carroll said. “There are a lot of people in the grandstand watching the work, there’s a lot of distractions with the crowd. I don’t know what happened.”

Carroll said he had high hopes for Doctor Rap, who was scheduled to make his debut later this spring. The horse was supposed to run as a 2-year-old last summer before a leg injury ended his campaign.

“He’s a real gentleman,” he said. “He was real promising. I guess he spooked.”

Fatal collisions during training are rare but not unprecedented.

Record-setting 3-year-old gelding Tin Cup Chalice and 4-year-old colt Zany were both euthanized after colliding during training at Finger Lakes Game and Racetrack in New York last month.