Ok, so we haven’t pulled data from every track dating back to 1900. That would be close to impossible, but we have researched racetrack fatalities since the 1900 for racing’s biggest stars. The following is the most notable. Use your own judgement as to whether things are getting worse, and when the trend began.

1912- Kentucky Derby winner Worth 3 yrs old
1927- Scapa Flow 2 (one of Man o’ War’s fleetest sons) 3 yrs old
1928- Black Gold 7 yrs old
1959- Black Hills in Belmont Stakes 3 yrs old
1964- Lamb Chop- Champion four year old filly at Santa Anita Park
1969- Dark Mirage- Champion filly, four years old.
1975- Ruffian- Champion filly, three years old in match race at Belmont Park.
1982- Timely Writer- three year old colt in Jockey Club Gold Cup.
1983- Roving Boy- Three year old colt after winning Alibhai Handicap by a nose, fell past the finish line and broke both hind legs.
1990- Go For Wand- Champion three year old filly in Breeders Cup Distaff.
1993- Union City- Three year old colt in Preakness Stakes.
1993- Prairie Bayou- Three year old gelding in Belmont Stakes.
2006- Barbaro- Derby Champ broke down during the Preakness Stakes.
2006- Pine Island- Three year old filly during Breeders Cup Distaff
2007- George Washington- Four year old horse during Breeders Cup Classic.
2008- Eight Belles- Three year old filly in Kentucky Derby after finishing second.

Three before the late fifties, and thirteen since. Not to mention that before the seventies, racehorses carried more weight, and had a higher number of starts.

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