Tragedy strikes Preakness Stakes weekend after racehorse Hit Zero dies moments after debut race

LAUREL, MARYLAND:  A heartbreaking moment cast a shadow over Preakness Stakes weekend after racehorse Hit Zero collapsed and died shortly after crossing the finish line during the Black-Eyed Susan day card at Laurel Park on Friday, May 16.

The horse, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr and trained by Brittany Russell, had just completed his first-ever career race when the tragedy unfolded in front of stunned spectators and racing officials.

Hit Zero collapsed moments after crossing finish line at Laurel Park

According to Dr Dionne Benson, the Chief Veterinary Officer, Hit Zero began showing signs of distress almost immediately after finishing the race.

“He started coughing, went down to his knees and collapsed,” Benson told WBAL-TV.

The shocking incident happened during the Black-Eyed Susan day card event, which is part of the larger buildup surrounding Preakness weekend festivities.

Benson said the symptoms are often associated with heart-related issues in horses, though she stressed there was no confirmed evidence pointing to that at the moment.

She explained that officials would carry out a complete necropsy examination to better understand what caused the sudden collapse.

The death left many at Laurel Park visibly shaken, especially because it happened during Hit Zero’s debut race.

What should have been the beginning of the horse’s racing career instead turned into a devastating scene that overshadowed the event.

Preakness weekend moved to Laurel Park amid Pimlico renovations

This year’s Black-Eyed Susan event was held at Laurel Park instead of its usual home at Pimlico due to ongoing renovations at the historic racetrack.

The venue change brought added attention to Laurel Park during one of horse racing’s biggest weekends, but Friday’s tragedy quickly became the dominant focus of conversation surrounding the event.

Pimlico itself has faced criticism and painful memories over the years because of several horse deaths tied to major race weekends.

The latest incident involving Hit Zero immediately brought back memories of previous tragedies connected to the Preakness atmosphere and the emotional toll those incidents have had on the sport.

Horse racing has long faced intense public scrutiny whenever animals suffer catastrophic injuries or sudden collapses during competition, especially during nationally watched racing weekends.

Previous horse deaths during Preakness events still haunt racing fans

Friday’s tragedy also revived memories of past horse deaths connected to Preakness-related races.

In 2019, racehorse Congrats Gal collapsed and died while competing in the Miss Preakness Stakes on the Friday before the Preakness.

That horse reportedly faltered in the final stretch before being eased across the finish line, only to die shortly afterward.

Another devastating day came in 2016 when two horses died during races connected to Preakness weekend activities.

Homeboykris collapsed while being led back toward the barn after celebrating a surprising victory in the first race of the day as a 9/1 underdog.

Later that same day, Pramedya suffered a catastrophic broken left front leg and had to be euthanized on the track.

The accident also left Daniel Centeno with a broken right collarbone following the fall.

The repeated tragedies have continued to fuel difficult conversations surrounding horse safety, track conditions, and the emotional risks tied to the sport.