Horse Euthanized In Belmont Undercard; PETA Responds
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Four-year-old colt Helwan has been euthanized after suffering a broken bone in his left front foot during the running of the Jaipur Invitational at Belmont Park.
The race is one of several stakes on the undercard before American Pharoah attempts to win the Belmont and become the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years.
According the New York Racing Association, Helwan was pulled up with about 3 1/2 furlongs to go in the six-furlong race on the turf with the injury. He was euthanized on the track, behind a screen to keep the tens of thousands of fans from viewing the unpleasant scene.
The animal rights group PETA was quick to respond on Twitter:
BREAKING:
— PETA (@peta) June 6, 2015
Horse named Helwan FATALLY injured during race & euthanized on track at #BelmontStakes.
WATCH: http://t.co/98ongQp6IU
More than 1,000 horses DIED ON U.S. RACETRACKS in 2014.
— PETA (@peta) June 6, 2015
Your BET is not worth their LIFE. #BelmontStakes pic.twitter.com/vkH2KgYogB
#HorseRacing: the only sport where winners can become dinners. #BelmontStakes pic.twitter.com/U7QXx2w5mi
— PETA (@peta) June 6, 2015
The injury was to the left cannon bone, NYRA said.
Jockey Jose L. Ortiz was uninjured. He jumped off the horse, and walked off the track.
Helwan, bred in France, was in his first race in the United States. The trainer is Chad Brown; the owner Al Shaqab Racing.
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