Horse euthanized after chuckwagon-race injury

A thoroughbred horse that severely injured its leg after racing in Sunday evening’s chuckwagon event at the Calgary Stampede has been euthanized.

The leg fracture, which officials say is common to thoroughbred horses in the racing industry, occurred on the Rangeland Derby track after the fifth heat of the chuckwagon races was finished Sunday evening.

The horse belonging to Roger Moore was immediately removed from the track, assessed by an onsite veterinarian team and then transported by ambulance for more examination.

A veterinarian discovered the animal had a severely fractured cannon bone on its left hind leg and determined the horse needed to be put down.

“We’re all sombre today. Nobody ever wants to lose an animal,” Mike Piper, chair of the Calgary Stampede chuckwagon committee, said Monday.

Piper said the type of bone injury the animal sustained is “an unfortunate reality” that’s common among that particular breed of horse.

“It’s a genetic thing that (some of) these animals have,” Piper said.

Piper said while Stampede officials and drivers do their best to prevent all injuries, they are a reality of any sport.

“I’d love to prevent everything,” he said. “It’s no different than a football player sustaining a concussion who’s wearing a helmet.”

The chair of the chuckwagon committee added that drivers and horses develop deep personal relationships and the committee is respecting Moore’s privacy.

“There were no other injuries and we weren’t even close to a situation back there,” Piper said. “Roger (Moore) did what all of our drivers do, was a true pro and managed to get everything under control. We’re really proud of him.”

The fatality marks the first horse death of this year’s Stampede and comes after an unusual year, when no animals were killed or seriously hurt during the 2016 event.