LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kentucky Derby contender Lord Miles has been scratched from running in the world-famous horse race at Churchill Downs.
Following the death of two of his horses at Churchill Downs, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and Board of Stewards have scratched all horses trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., including colt Lord Miles, until further notice.
In a statement, the board said the decision was made "for the betterment of racing, the health and welfare of our equine athletes, and the safety of our jockeys."
The trainer has also been suspended by Churchill Downs Incorporated and barred from entering horses in race or applying for stall occupancy at all CDI-owned racetracks.
Officials said the suspension is indefinite pending an autopsy of Parents Pride and Chasing Artie.
Parents Pride, Joseph's 4-year-old philly, collapsed following an Opening Day race on Saturday.
His 5-year-old gelding, Chasing Artie, died in a similar fashion Tuesday.
Joseph previously scratched six of his horses in races Thursday and Friday but had left Lord Miles in the Derby field.
The decision to pull Joseph's horses was made in consultation with the trainer.
"We fully support the stewards' actions today to ensure the safety of our equine and human athletes while an investigation is ongoing into the unusual circumstances surrounding these tragic fatalities," Chairman of the KHRC, Jonathan Rabinowitz, and Secretary of the Public Protection Cabinet, Ray Perry, said in a joint statement.
Mandarin Hero, trained by Terunobu Fujita, is taking Lord Miles' place in the Derby.
This makes the second horse to be scratched from the Derby on Thursday. Practical Move was also scratched due to an "elevated temperature."
When WHAS11 went to Joseph's Barn on the backside of Churchill Downs Thursday for a comment, the crew found Joseph had left about 30 minutes prior.
Joseph's horses and training team were still at the barn at that time.
Two other horses sustained "musculo-skeletal injuries from which they could not recover" on the track this past week: Wild on Ice received his injuries while training on dirt April 27 and Take Charge Briana during a turf race on Tuesday.
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission supported Churchill Down's suspension of Joseph, given the unexplained circumstances surrounding Joseph's horses' deaths.
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