Breaking news right now for Kentucky Derby
149, another Derby horses scratch tonight.
Also Churchill suspending a Derby trainer
as state authorities scratch all of his
horses after two of them died this week.
The WHAS 11 19 Right now,
with team coverage and reactionm
fans leaving Thurby tonight, there are
a lot of things that can be going on.
I mean, it's not just.
Something sappy could be doing as the
lilies are sewn into the Oaks Garland,
getting ready for more than
100,000 fans for Oaks Day tomor.
Plus, you know,
I want to do some special things here.
Is John Calipari going to stay
at UK for several more years?
You'll hear what he told radio
host Dan Patrick today.
It's an eye opener right now on
the WHAS 11, 19.
And here it is, breaking
news tonight on Derby
149 at 9:00 o'clock tonight,
another Derby contender was
scratched from the big race.
It is our top story on the WHAS 11 19.
Hello everyone. I'm Doug Profit.
That means 3 Derby horses are now out
and a trainer suspended indefinitely.
We have team coverage tonight.
Connor Steffen's live at Churchill Downs.
Getting a reaction to the suspen
of the trainer sappy Joseph Jun.
But first sports director Ken Spencer
is here with me here on the 19,
the latest on a fast changing f.
Of the Kentucky Derby and Kent
the horse out tonight is Contine
our Why did his trainer decide
to pull him out of the Derby?
Well this all started about an hour and a
half ago when the announcement came out
from Churchill Downs Continue Our will
not run in the Derby because his trainer
felt the three-year olds fitness wasn't
where it needed to be to run in the Derby.
Continue our is one of the horses from Japan.
He was a 50 to 1 long shot after
finishing third in the UAE Derb.
Another scratch practical move
entered today is the second betg
favorite for the Derby behind F.
He was taken out by trainer Tim Yak Teen
after developing a fever after training.
This morning,
Lord Miles was scratched after his trainer,
Saffy Joseph Junior was
suspended by Churchill Downs.
Louisville native Dale Romans nd
just one scratch to get his hor,
Cyclone Mischief into the field.
Cyclone Mr. has been at 21 all k
and we're just waiting on somebody to
scratch Will finally this after.
The horse came out. We get to draw in,
we get a chance to win the racem
the also eligibles like last ye.
But opens it up for us to come in and
I think we're going to run. Wel.
Remember Rich Strike was it also eligible
and won the Kentucky Derby a year ago.
Little tidbit on Cyclone mischi.
He's finished third and his last two starts
the Florida Derby and the fountain of youth.
This will be Romans 12th Derby starter.
There has been such a shakeup to
the field let's see how it did
with some starting positions.
Let's focus. On the 11th disarm
with the scratch of practical m,
he'll move down to gate 10 will still
be the 11, just slide down one .
All the horses to his outside
will also follow suit.
Lord Miles was already in post 19 continue
are coming out of the far outside post.
Both of those horses,
like I've said, have scratched.
So cyclone mischief will
now exit out of gate 18.
Dale Romans did tell me today,
should decide in the next day oo
the jockey for cyclone mischief.
He wanted to see how things would play out.
And man have they played out.
Mandarin Hero,
another horse from Japan who fit
a second in the Santa Anita Dery
is next and then King Russell is
the last of the field trained by
Ron Moquette at 50 to 1.
All right Kent so you're going
to have 100,000 people heading
there for the oaks tomorrow.
Probably even a bigger crowd wih
the the stunning weather about
these scratches we know they can
continue right up to the Derby.
We've seen that happen.
I. This seems like a lot.
We've had many in the past.
I don't know where this is going to stand,
but this could continue. Yeah.
No, look, it is, you know,
to have four horses scratched ie
past week, three just in one da.
I mean, it's a little bit mind boggling.
Really for any also eligibles tt
wanted to enter the race the deadline
would have been Friday at 9:00 .
But all the also eligibles have already
gotten into the Derby so if anyy
scratches from here on out there will be
the Derby will not be a 20 horse field.
OK. Thank you very much Kent.
Well now to the stunning news
earlier today Churchill down
suspending the trainer who had o
horses die while racing this we.
The Kentucky horse racing Commin
also scratching his horse from the Derby
and Churchill Downs releasing A pointed
statement about trainer Saffy Joseph.
Of Junior saying given the
unexplained sudden deaths,
we have reasonable concerns about the
condition of his horses and decd
to suspend him indefinitely untl
details are analyzed and unders.
WHS 11 Nineteen's Connor Steffen
and photojournalist Ian Hartvete
live right now with the track wh
more on what happened that led to the
quick moves today by Churchill d
the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.
Connor.
So, Doug, some keywords coming m
the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission,
Unusual deaths.
That's how they described what
happened to the two horses.
They support the move by Churchl
Downs to suspend Joseph,
Though if you ask people here
as they were exiting Derby or
sorry Thurby what they thought,
the reaction really was
split right down the middle.
As thousands headed for the exin
a record-breaking Thurban unknon
to most the stakes and Saturday's run
for the Roses were drastically changing.
But yeah, I was I was really
shocked that you know he was
having any problems with it.
It wasn't the crowds but the mos
made by Churchill Downs to suspd
Miami based trainer Saffy Josep.
that had everyone talking.
He's a good trainer.
I mean you know he's very successful.
He's one of those people that
one of those trainers that.
You definitely look at betting n
Cdi's decision follows the highy
unusual sudden deaths of two of Joseph
Juniors horses this week. Parents pride.
His four year old Philly collapd
following an opening day race on Saturday.
Then Tuesday his five year old gelding
chasing already died in a similar fashion.
There's a concern, but you know, like I say,
you gotta wait and see what hap.
I mean there. There are a lot of
things that could be going on.
We went to see if Joseph Jr.
could answer some of those questions.
By the time we got to his Churcl
barn just after the final Thurby race,
he was gone, though his horses d
trainer team were still there. Joseph Jr.
spoke to us Wednesday morning at
the two deaths and had this to .
I don't think it's it's bad for.
It's not it's not up with that
it to happen twice. It's not.
It's not. I mean.
We're going to see Joseph Jr.
isn't the only trainer to
lose a horse this week.
Two other horses sustained
musculoskeletal injuries from
which they could not recover.
But given the unexplained circumstances
surrounding Joseph's horses,
the Kentucky Horse Racing
Commission supports the move,
saying the investigation is ongg
into the unusual circumstances
surrounding these tragic fatali.
Many do support the decision.
I believe that Kentucky Downs is
doing exactly what they need to.
Others are skeptical.
Churchill Downs is is being Churchill.
Downs and they're protecting themselves,
you know and you know that's
that's the way it is.
Things happen.
No, I mean there's there's
there's a lot of history if
you look back 40-50 years.
So you know
the Kentucky Horse Racing Horse
Racing Commission also saying ty
full necropsies of those dead hs
basically a horse version of an autopsy
are now underway at UK in Lexin.
To explain, sudden death examinations
like these are broader in scope.
We're live here in Churchill Do.
Connor Stefan WHAS 11 on your s.
Connor, thank you very much.
And it was a recordbreaking
attendance day for Thurby at
the track on this Thursday.
After we went off the air at six
with one number, Churchill Downs
tonight upped it two more times,
The final total for Thurby 54,8,
up nearly 15% over the last yea.
Fans told us the weather was a .
So now everybody is here in
the weather is gorgeous today,
So what a great day.
We're on our way to the new first turn area,
which is a little further away than usual,
but it's all good to meet
different people on the way.
And again, if you haven't heard,
our first alert storm team has now removed
rain from the Friday forecast over Churchill
Downs Oaks Day is going to be rain free now.
Last year just over 100,000 peoe
attended a rainy Kentucky Oaks.
Tomorrow's number sure to be much bigger.
Happening tonight,
the creation of the Garland of lilies,
which always draws a crowd to watch it
being made the lilies for the Phillies.
The symbol of the Kentucky oaks,
the handcrafted Garland is being stitched
together at his traditional spo,
the Big Kroger Store in Middlet.
All day long, workers have been
working on putting together the prize.
The tradition,
starting in 1991 for this Garlad
and includes 148 stargazer lili.
It's 20 inches wide, 116 inches long,
and weighs about 20 pounds.
And the best part for fans,
it's made right in that store.
That's the that's the best part is that
it is accessible and it's just a great
way to really feel the energy and the
excitement of Derby. So this is great.
Tomorrow, the Kroger floral artist will
put together the Garland of roses which
will crown this year's Derby wi.
Now the Garland was not used
in the first Kentucky Derby.
It first appeared in 1896
and was white and pink.
Both the Oaks and Derby Garlands
get police escorts to Churchill
Downs Join WHS 11 News for specl
coverage of Oaks Day tomorrow
from the Kentucky Derby Museum.
Our live coverage begins at thre
right here tomorrow afternoon.
More local news tonight.
Louisville Metro Police announcg
today they've made an arrest ina
double homicide back in Decembe.
Police have arrested 31 year old
Kellen Slaughter in connection with the
December 5th shooting in Old Louisville.
Police say the shooting occurred in a
parking lot on Arthur Street near I-65.
When officers arrived,
they found Kenneth Sauer Junior
and Jimmy Mayheb,
both suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Slaughter has been charged
with murder and robbery,
as well as multiple drug trafficking charges.
The downtown monument honoring
fallen police officers and othen
Louisville was vandalized overn.
It stands in Jefferson Square P.
LMPD says the two flags wrapped
around the memorial were set on fire.
This morning you could see the burned
scraps surrounding the Eternal Flame,
but it doesn't appear that the memorial
itself sustained any lasting da.
LNPD today says it is reviewing security
camera footage in the area right now,
and the mayor of Louisville is asking
for your opinion on the hiring f
a new fulltime Metro Police chi.
This is your chance to tell them what
you want to see in the next police chief.
Survey,
which can be found at the top of
the city's website,
takes only a few minutes to complete.
Additionally,
there's space for comments or
any other ideas,
thoughts or concerns you may have directly
shared with Mayor Craig Greenbe.
The survey will remain online until Friday,
May 12th.