Churchill Downs Apparently Hid a Kentucky Derby-Week Horse Death
Churchill Downs apparently hid a horse’s death because it happened during Kentucky Derby week, the racetrack’s biggest days of the year.
During Race 7 on April 28 at Churchill Downs, a 3-year-old colt named Vino Subito suffered a catastrophic leg injury. Emergency track personnel and veterinarians rushed onto the track following the race to examine his injured leg and load him into an equine ambulance. PETA investigators were on the scene and recorded exclusive video.
PETA asked Churchill Downs for updates right away. But the company did not publicly announce that veterinarians euthanized Vino Subito two days later, on April 30.
Video: Watch What Happened on the Track
PETA Exclusive: Extended footage of 3-year-old Vino Subito’s catastrophic fatal injury.
What PETA Is Asking Churchill Downs to Do
In a letter sent to CEO Bill Carstanjen, PETA called for a clear policy: immediate, complete public disclosure of every serious injury and death at Churchill Downs and its training track
Hiding the truth is not a business plan, but Churchill Downs appears to have decided that transparency is too damaging to its brand ahead of the most lucrative week in racing.
Vino Subito was a 3-year-old horse with a personality, preferences, and relationships. Horses experience a range of emotions, from joy and affection to fear and anxiety. They form deep emotional connections, recognizing individual voices and appearances, and they communicate with each other using whinnies, neighs, and nickers—each serving a different purpose. Vino Subito was someone, not something—and Churchill Downs treated his death like a line item to bury.
A Pattern of Silence at Churchill Downs
This is not the first time Churchill Downs faced questions about transparency.
Publicly available information indicated that five horses died at Churchill Downs or its training track last year. But PETA uncovered that the real number was much higher: 13 horses died as of August. Then the toll rose again: 19 fatalities were confirmed by the end of 2025.
Another High-Profile Injury Raised Alarm
Just days before Vino Subito’s breakdown, another horse suffered a major trauma at the same track. Four-year-old Gosger—a graded-stakes winner who finished second in the 2025 Preakness Stakes—suffered a career-ending injury while training at Churchill Downs, putting even more attention on safety at the track.
Why This Matters Beyond Kentucky
Churchill Downs has faced intense scrutiny before. In 2023, the track suspended racing after twelve horses died in the weeks surrounding the Kentucky Derby, including Lost in Limbo.
Now the stakes stretch beyond Louisville. Churchill Downs Incorporated announced a deal to acquire the intellectual property rights to the Preakness Stakes and the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes.
Because of that move, PETA also demands assurances that Churchill Downs will not export a “hide it and move on” culture to Maryland next year.
Key Facts
- Vino Subito suffered a catastrophic leg injury during Race 7 at Churchill Downs on April 28
- PETA investigators recorded exclusive video of this incident.
- Veterinarians euthanized Vino Subito two days later, on April 30, and Churchill Downs did not publicly disclose it at the time.
- The death occurred right before Churchill Downs’ two biggest racing days of the year, including the Kentucky Derby day on May 2.
- PETA asked CEO Bill Carstanjen to require immediate public disclosure of all serious injuries and deaths.
- PETA cites a broader pattern: 19 fatalities confirmed at Churchill Downs by the end of 2025.
What You Can Do
Don’t bet on, attend, or watch any Triple Crown races while horses are still dying on tracks. Share this video with everyone you know.
