Horse dies after opening race Friday as Preakness weekend begins

LAUREL, Md. — A horse died after the opening race on Friday at Laurel Park as Preakness weekend festivities got underway, according to track officials.

Hit Zero, trained by Brittany Russell and owned by ItsTheJHo LLC and Evan Trommer, died after Race 1 at Laurel Park. Race officials said veterinary personnel responded immediately but could not save the horse, which was jockeyed by Russell’s husband, Sheldon. A necropsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death, according to Maryland racing officials.

“We recognize the significance of this loss and are committed to conducting a thorough, transparent process,” the Maryland Racing Commission wrote in a statement. “The Commission will report findings in accordance with HISA disclosure requirements once the necropsy and review are complete.”

Later, during Race 5, Long Straw and Typhoon Kuhn collided on the final stretch and unseated a jockey. Both horses are fine, according to racing officials. Typhoon Kuhn jockey Carlos Lopez was tended to and walked off with pain.

The Maryland Jockey Club has thrice previously canceled a weekend of horse racing at Laurel Park when multiple fatal injuries occurred. In April 2023, two colts suffered injuries and were later euthanized, which led to a decision to halt the racing card. In December 2021, two racing weekends were nixed after a series of catastrophic breakdowns raised questions about the dirt’s surface. Racing officials would add 1,200 tons of coarse sand to address the issue, in part blaming the winter weather.

Friday’s incident came as the region prepares for the Preakness Stakes weekend festivities at Laurel Park, which is hosting racing while Pimlico Race Course undergoes a $400 million renovation. It was not the first time a horse had died during Preakness weekend events.

In 2019, the filly Congrats Gal collapsed and died while running in the Miss Preakness Stakes on the Friday before the Preakness. The horse faltered in the upper stretch during 83-degree heat and was eased across the finish line before dying.

In 2016, two horses died during the early races on Preakness Saturday at Pimlico. Homeboykris, a 9-year-old Maryland-bred gelding, collapsed and died after winning the first race of the day as a 9-1 underdog. The horse fell on the way back to the barn after leaving the winner’s circle.

Later that day, Pramedya, a 4-year-old filly, suffered a catastrophic broken left front leg during the fourth race and was euthanized on the track. Jockey Daniel Centeno suffered a broken right collarbone in the fall and was taken to a local hospital.