Wild on Ice, one of the projected starters at the 2023 Kentucky Derby, was forced to be euthanized following a pre-race training injury last week.
Frank Sumpter, Wild on Ice's owner, confirmed the news to the El Paso Times. The 3-year-old Texas-bred gelding entered the Derby ranked 15th in points standings (50) after winning the Grade 3 Sunland Derby on March 26; he had won three of five races run in his life.
"Wild On Ice gave us so many great moments," Sumpter told the El Paso Times. "He'll forever be remembered. It's a sad situation. My heart goes out to the team, trainer Joel Marr and everyone who helped us get to this point.
"These horses give us so many great moments in life and our team puts in so many hours taking care of the horses. He had a fracture in his hind leg and it was determined he couldn't be saved. Wild On Ice had so much heart."
Wild on Ice is one of five horses to have died at Churchill Downs in the lead-up to the 149th "Run for the Roses." The other three are Parents Pride, a 4-year-old filly; Chasing Artie, a 5-year-old thoroughbred; Take Charge Briana; a 3-year-old filly; and Code of Kings, a 3-year-old gelding.
MORE: What to know as Churchill Downs investigates deaths of five horses
Here's what you need to know about why the Kentucky Derby hopeful was euthanized:
Why was Wild on Ice euthanized?
Wild on Ice was euthanized the morning of Thursday, April 27 as a result of an injury he suffered to his left hind leg while training at Churchill Downs. Multiple reports indicate the horse breezed five furlongs in 1 minute, 1.40 seconds before jockey Ken Tohill pulled up down the backstretch.
Wild On Ice was evaluated at the Churchill Downs Equine Medical Center before being transported to another equine surgical facility in Lexington, Ky., for further evaluation. Tohill and trainer Joel Marr followed the horse to the facility, where Sumpter said "it was determined he couldn't be saved."
According to the American Association of Equine Partners, euthanasia should only be considered "once all available alternatives have been explored with the client."
Those include continuous or unmanageable pain from a chronic or incurable condition; a medical condition or surgical procedure that has a poor prognosis for a good quality of life; continuous pain relieving medication and/or box stall confinement; or an unmanageable medical or behavioral condition.