Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. Suspended by Churchill Downs After Death of 2 Horses

Churchill Downs Incorporated has indefinitely suspended trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. from entering horses in races or applying for stalls at CDI tracks after two horses he trained—Parents Pride and Chasing Artie—died unexpectedly on Saturday and Tuesday, respectively.

CDI announced the suspension in a press release Thursday:

"Churchill Downs Incorporated ("CDI") announced today the indefinite suspension of trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. until further notice. The suspension prohibits Joseph, or any trainer directly or indirectly employed by Joseph, from entering horses in races or applying for stall occupancy at all CDI-owned racetracks.

"CDI's decision follows the highly-unusual sudden deaths of two horses trained by Joseph at Churchill Downs Racetrack: Parents Pride on Saturday and Chasing Artie on Tuesday. Lord Miles, trained by Joseph, has been scratched from Saturday's 149th running of the Kentucky Derby."

CDI President and COO Bill Mudd issued a statement as well:

"Given the unexplained sudden deaths, we have reasonable concerns about the condition of his horses, and decided to suspend him indefinitely until details are analyzed and understood. The safety of our equine and human athletes and integrity of our sport is our highest priority. We feel these measures are our duty and responsibility."

Lord Miles, a Joseph-trained horse, was set to run from the No. 19 post position on Saturday in the Kentucky Derby before being scratched. Mandarin Hero will now replace him.

Per the Associated Press, four horses have now died at the track in the past week. Both Wild on Ice and Take Charge Briana suffered musculoskeletal injuries and were euthanized after being assessed.

The causes of death for Chasing Artie and Parents Pride have yet to be determined.

"It shatters me," Joseph told Sports Illustrated's Pat Forde on Wednesday. "The odds of that happening twice, it doesn't add up. Theories aren't going to help anything. We need facts.''

He spoke again on Thursday morning.

"If there is something going on over there like contamination—or we don't know what it is—some virus or something, we don't know," Joseph said, per Jason Frakes and C.L. Brown of the Louisville Courier Journal. "We have no answers. I mean, there's a lot of questions. There's a lot of thoughts, but there's nothing right now."

Joseph told reporters that Kentucky Racing Commission regulators came to his barn to "do their due diligence" after Chasing Artie's passing and noted how distraught he was at the moment, per Forde.

"This is the lowest of the lows you can experience," Joseph said. "It's not a good feeling. It crushes you. But you can either give up, or you can keep going. I'm going to keep going."

Per horse racing journalist Ray Paulick, there has not yet been an official comment from The Stronach Group, which owns Pimlico Race Course, home of the Preakness Stakes, as of Thursday at 5 p.m. ET.