Saffie not racing at Belmont Park

New York Racing Association (NYRA) officials said embattled ace Barbadian trainer Saffie Joseph Jr was not planning to run any horse at Belmont Park in the United States while he is being investigated for the unexplained deaths of two horses in Louisville, Kentucky.

This followed Joseph’s suspension after Parents Pride and Chasing Artie, two of his horses, collapsed and died at the world-renowned Churchill Downs racetrack in the lead-up to 149th Kentucky Derby two Saturdays ago.

A spokesman for the NYRA said Joseph, 36, is not expected to ship horses to Belmont Park in the immediate future.

According to a statement from NYRA vice president for communications Patrick McKenna: “Following recent events at Churchill Downs, which remain under investigation by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, NYRA has engaged in discussions with trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.

“Mr Joseph has no horses stabled at Belmont Park and, to our understanding, is not currently planning on shipping horses to New York or entering races at Belmont Park while the matter is under investigation.

“NYRA will continue to evaluate our response should new information come to light.”

Joseph has expressed frustration with the situation at Churchill Downs, and he characterized the actions of officials at the track against him as an attempt to distract from a broader issue with equine fatalities there.

A total of seven horses died at the racetrack in the span of 10 days leading up to the Kentucky Derby, but no other suspensions have been laid.

Joseph has continued to fill the entry box at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida, where he is based, and he has several horses entered at the track over the weekend. (CMC) ]]>