Sunland Derby winner Wild On Ice euthanized after injury during Kentucky Derby prep
Sunland Derby winner Wild On Ice was euthanized Thursday morning after suffering an injury to his left hind leg during training Thursday at Churchill Downs in Louisville in preparation for the Kentucky Derby, the horse's owner Frank Sumpter confirmed.
The 3-year-old Texas-bred breezed five furlongs in 1 minute, 1.40 seconds and then was pulled up by Jockey Ken Tohill while galloping on the backstretch.
Wild On Ice was evaluated at the Churchill Downs Equine Medical Center and was subsequently transported to Lexington to an equine surgical facility for further evaluation. Trainer Joel Marr and Tohill followed the horse to Lexington.
"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."
Wild On Ice was looking to become the first Texas-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby since Middleground in 1950 and the first gelding to win the Derby since Mine That Bird in 2009. Mine That Bird also came from Sunland Park.
Wild On Ice, a winner of three of five lifetime races, won the March 26 Sunland Derby at odds of 35-1 and is owned by Sumpter of Lamesa, Texas. Marr, Tohill and Sumpter had been set to participate in their first Kentucky Derby. The 60-year-old Tohill would have attempted to be the oldest jockey to win a Kentucky Derby.
"All I could tell you is that whomever makes it all the way to compete in this category should truly appreciate it. You can have the most caring and responsible trainer. A wonderful, big hearted owner and a talented young horse," Tohill told the Louisville Courier-Journal. "Just figuring it out and still not be able to make it through adversities and risk factors in the game we so much love."
More: Horse racing news 'A different kind of excitement': Ken Tohill set to become oldest Kentucky Derby jockey
Felix F. Chavez can be reached at fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on Twitter
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Sunland Derby winner Wild On Ice euthanized after injury
