Horse trained by Bob Baffert euthanized on track ahead of the Preakness

A horse of Hall of Fame fitness instructor Bob Baffert was euthanized at Pimlico Race Course on the undercard of Saturday’s Preakness Stakes in Baltimore, dealing another shiner to the beleaguered sport.

Havnameltdown, a 4-5 preferred in the $200,000 Grade IIII Chick Lang Stakes, broke down and tossed jockey Luis Saez at the top of the stretch.

“We are just devastated,” Baffert said in a statement This is a shock to everybody at our barn who like and look after these horses every day.”

Breaking out of the within stall, Havnameltdown was bumped by theNo 2 horse and ultimate winner Ryvit, triggering him to briefly divert towards the rail.

“Havnameltdown was clearly struck quite hard coming out of eviction,” Baffert added. “We do not understand if that added to the injury, however we will be totally transparent with those evaluating this dreadful mishap. Right now, our ideas are with Luis Saez and we are confident he will be all right.”

Hanvameltdown’s injury was disastrous and absolutely nothing might be provided for him, according to on-call track vet ScottHay The horse was put down while still on the track.

“Unfortunately Havnameltdown suffered an injury of his left front ankle that was of such a degree that they could not do anything for him and he needed to be humanely euthanized,” Hay informed NBC Sports.

“The degree of the injury was extreme enough that it was most likely in the horse’s benefit to simply euthanize at that point instead of attempt to go through the procedure of filling him on to an ambulance.”

The colt’s euthanization is available in the wake of a string of equine deaths leading up to the Kentucky Derby previously this month at Churchill Downs.

Eight horses passed away in a bit more than a week at the well known Louisville course, raising issues about the sport’s treatment of its animals.

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