An early morning trailer crash in Kentucky that killed three thoroughbreds bound for Keeneland Race Course Monday was traveling from Fair Grounds Race Course, not Oaklawn as several media sources have claimed.
The tractor-trailer was traveling east around 4:49 a.m. on the Bluegrass Parkway toward Lexington, Kentucky, when it "crossed the median and westbound lanes, colliding into the embankment of the overpass," a news release from the Bardstown Police Department said.
The release said the trailer contained seven horses, "3 of which were pronounced dead on scene. The other 4 suffer from life-threatening injuries and have been transported to an animal hospital."
Oaklawn Vice President of Racing Jason Milligan confirmed via email the horses were not traveling from Arkansas, noting "they were shipping from New Orleans to Kentucky."
The horses came from the barn of trainer Eddie Kenneally, and according to a post shared Monday afternoon by Double O Racing on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, one of the horses that was killed in the crash was 3-year-old Darkroom, a 2-for-4 gelding out of Enticed, that won an allowance race on March 15 in his last appearance. Double O Racing was part owner of the horse along with Kenneally, Kim Valerio and Martha Ingram.
Thoroughbred Daily News noted the 3-year-old Vitement, out of Mizzen Mast, was among the injured horses. The 2-for-5 colt last finished third in the $150,000 Ozark Stakes on Feb. 10 at Oaklawn.
"On behalf of my family and my team I want to extend my sincere gratitude for all of the texts, calls, thoughts and prayers. Yesterday was a nightmare that no owner, trainer or horse lover should ever have to endure," Kenneally shared on X Monday.
"So much hard work and thoughtfulness goes into taking care of these horses and the loss is tragic. Please keep pulling for the four horses that miraculously made it out and are fighting at the clinic. Thank you again for the support."
The release said the driver of the truck "had a severe foot laceration as well as two visible head lacerations."
Nelson County, Kentucky, Emergency Management posted on Facebook the driver was extricated "within 30 minutes. The driver was taken to a nearby landing zone by Nelson County EMS and flown to University of Louisville hospital by Air Methods KY-6."
Due to the "severe angle of the trailer and the condition of the horses inside," emergency personnel decided to "evacuate the horses one at a time. ... Removal of the horses took over 4 hours. Unfortunately, due to the severity of the accident, 3 horses did not survive their injuries. Total time on-scene was in excess of 10 hours."
The post said a total of 16 agencies were involved at the scene.