Close to win, New York Thunder suffers fatal fall at Saratoga

Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Travers day began with a pro-racing rally outside the main gate of Saratoga Race Course. Many demonstrators bore signs that read, “Honk if you are for racing.” Many drivers sounded off in response as they looked forward to a stakes-filled, 13-race card.

By the end of what turned into a long, painful day, many fans were in no mood to honk their horns or cheer. The death toll at one of the sport’s most iconic venues increased by two and hit 12 confirmed with the breakdowns of Nobel after the fifth race and of rising star New York Thunder in the Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes four races later.

The catastrophic injury to New York Thunder prompted gasps in the stands and in the press box. It evoked memories of the horrifying loss of Maple Leaf Mel three weeks before in the Test Stakes (G1). In each case, Maple Leaf Mel and New York Thunder, both undefeated, had displayed a tremendous turn of foot to dispatch high-caliber competition and establish clear leads as they sped down the stretch. Neither reached the finish line.

“The safety of horses and jockeys competing at Saratoga Race Course is paramount,” NYRA president and CEO David O’Rourke said in a written statement late Saturday evening. “NYRA is continuing to investigate these catastrophic injuries with (Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority) officials, the New York State Gaming Commission and the New York state equine medical director. We will immediately consult with HISA's track-surface advisory group to further examine the overall condition of all three racing surfaces at Saratoga prior to Sunday's program. In addition, NYRA will convene a group of relevant outside experts to evaluate our current safety protocols and procedures.

“While NYRA has made meaningful and sustained progress reducing the frequency of serious injuries over the last 10 years, there is always more work to be done to build upon that progress now and in the future."

New York Thunder, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, shook clear Saturday in the Jerkens as he made a four-wide move into the stretch and was drawing off as he inexplicably broke down outside the sixteenth pole while Gaffalione hit the track hard. The surface, rated good on the toteboard and muddy by Equibase, had been sealed to help protect it after light rain. In the case of Maple Leaf Mel, she was tragically lost when she suffered an irreparable injury to her right leg in the shadow of the wire.

Irad Ortiz Jr., who rode One in Vermillion to victory in the Jerkens after New York Thunder came to an abrupt halt, was grim-faced afterward.

“Speechless,” he said as he walked briskly to the jockeys room, surrounded by security. “Nothing you can say about it. It’s so sad for everybody who loved this horse.”

Gaffalione appeared to avoid serious injury. He was seen walking comfortably as he entered the jockeys room with an ice pack applied to the back of his neck.

Winning trainer Esteban Martinez was as shaken as Ortiz. “I feel really bad about the rider and the horse,” he said.

Jorge Delgado trained New York Thunder, a bay son of 2016 winner Nyquist who had won his first four starts and was coming off a whopping, 7 1/2-length victory in the July 28 Amsterdam Stakes (G2) at Saratoga. After two curtains were raised to prevent the large crowd from observing as New York Thunder was euthanized, Delgado was seen bent over a nearby rail as tears flowed.

In the fifth race of the day, Qatar Racing’s Nobel, a 4-year-old Lope de Vega colt who was bred in Ireland and making his first North America start, broke down as he galloped out following an optional-claiming race. He, too, was ridden by Gaffalione. He was trained by Brendan Walsh.

On Wednesday, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals called for the suspension of racing at Saratoga after Burning Bright, trained by Norm Casse, crashed into a temporary rail after dying of a cardiac event. NYRA has said it would intensify veterinary exams of all potential starters during the meet scheduled to end on Labor Day.

HISA said this week it had been investigating the deaths since Aug. 5, the day Maple Leaf Mel broke down. The statement did not mention whether the investigation in cooperation with NYRA and the gaming commission had uncovered any commonalities in the fatalities so far.

“HISA closely reviews every equine fatality that takes place under its jurisdiction,” the statement said. “On Aug. 5, HISA began conducting an expanded review of the circumstances surrounding recent equine fatalities at Saratoga Race Course. HISA officials are reviewing necropsy results, veterinary records, racing and training histories, surface maintenance logs and weather records gathered by local veterinarians and other officials.”