Churchill Downs declares race no contest after six-horse accident

A six-horse accident during the second race at Churchill Downs on Saturday night resulted in the contest being declared a “no contest” by stewards. The incident occurred during a 6 1/2-furlong race for 2-year-old maidens when the horse Lutkenhaus collapsed, causing a chain reaction among several other runners.

Lutkenhaus suffered a catastrophic injury to its left front leg and was humanely euthanized by on-track veterinarians. Other horses involved included Industrious, Midnight Rumble, Ritornello, Shacklebolt, and Steve Wood. Industrious and Shacklebolt required veterinary attention for leg injuries, while Ritornello and Steve Wood sustained superficial abrasions.

Three jockeys—Cristian Torres, Martin Garcia, and Walter Rodriguez—were transported to the University of Louisville Hospital for precautionary evaluation; all remained conscious. Two other riders, Keith Asmussen and Francisco Arrieta, chose to stop riding for the remainder of the card. Racing resumed following a 34-minute delay, and wagers on the race were refunded, excluding multi-race wagers.