Wild On Ice, a horse that was slated to run in the Kentucky Derby, has been euthanized after suffering an injury to his left hind leg in training on Thursday.
The horse’s owner Frank Sumpter confirmed the news to the El Paso Times.
“Wild On Ice gave us so many great moments,” Sumpter said. “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.”
The horse-racing network TVG aired the heartbreaking footage of Wild On Ice coming up lame in practice.
The horse won three of its five career races, including the Sunland Derby in New Mexico on March 26, which it entered at 35-to-1 odds.
After getting evaluated at the Churchill Downs Equine Medical Center, Wild On Ice was transferred to a horse surgery center in Lexington to be further evaluated.
Wild On Ice’s jockey, Ken Tohill, was attempting to be the oldest jockey ever to win the Kentucky Derby, at 60 years old.
According to the Louisville Courier-Journal, the horse was “considered a long-shot” to win the Derby.
Skinner, who finished third in the Santa Anita Derby, will replace Wild on Ice in the 20-horse field.
The Kentucky Derby takes place on Saturday, May 6 at Churchill Downs in Louisville.
