‘Catastrophic’ ending to eventful Manitoba Derby

It had everything you could have wanted for the signature racing event of the season, including plenty of drama and excitement in front of a packed crowd at Assiniboia Downs.

Unfortunately, Monday night’s Manitoba Derby also served up another painful reminder of the potential perils of “The Sport of Kings” and what can occasionally happen when these magnificent animals are pushed to their limits.

Forty Twenty, a three-year-old bay colt who was one of the morning line favourites, looked to be in great shape as he approached the final turn and was near the lead in the nine-horse race.

But disaster struck as he approached the final turn and suddenly pulled up as the rest of the packed passed him.

“We did not find out until after the race that the horse sustained an injury to his front left leg resulting in a decision by the onsite veterinarian to humanely euthanize him,” ASD CEO Darren Dunn told the Free Press on Tuesday.

“Catastrophic,” is how one track official described it.

Indeed, the tragedy may have missed in real time by most viewers — both at the track and watching online around the world — as the action carried on to a frantic finish, which saw the favourite, Western Warrior, pass and then barely hold off longshot Quarry for the victory in the 78th running of the event, which brought a record-setting $4.9 million in wagering.

“We have not had this experience this year and despite all measures of safety and care we put into the operation of the races this is a rare outcome than can and did occur,” said Dunn.

“Our heartfelt condolences go out to the Alberta-based ownership connections of this horse.”

“We have not had this experience this year and despite all measures of safety and care we put into the operation of the races this is a rare outcome than can and did occur.”

Forty Twenty was trained by four-time Manitoba Derby-winning trainer Robertino Diodoro for owner Randy Howg, who won the 2016 race with Inside Straight.

Diodoro did not return messages seeking comment on Tuesday.

“We originally thought (Forty Twenty) was going to be a very nice horse. Then he kind of went south on us. He went through some growing spurts and was very immature mentally, and he still is,” Diodoro recently told the Daily Racing Form ahead of the Derby, which carried a $125,000 purse.

“He’s slowly coming around and put it together in his last race (a dominant victory in Texas), running like the horse we thought he was going to be, which was good to see.”

Diodoro was asked by writer Ron Gierkink if he thought Forty Twenty could handle the extra distance, since the Derby is 1 1/8 miles.

“I think it will be fine,” Diodoro said.

It was an eventful Monday for the Calgary-born Diodoro, who brought three horses to Manitoba for the night and has amassed more than 2,500 victories over his 30-plus year career along with no shortage of controversy.

Last month, owners of six horses he trained were required to forfeit more than $70,000 in purse money for five wins and a second place finish at Turf Paradise in Phoenix, Ariz., due to a series of positive drug tests by the animals. There have been other punitive measures, including suspensions, in the past as well.

In Monday’s second race at ASD, Diodoro’s horse, Dontgiveupthefight, won the $50,000 Escape Clause Stakes.

“It is something you never get used to, no matter how long you are in the industry.”

In the fifth race, his horse, Go Go Boss, looked to have captured the $50,000 Harvey Warner Manitoba Mile. However, several objections were raised over the conduct of jockey Kimal Santo, who was deemed to have interfered with several other horses following a steward review. The result was a very costly disqualification.

Santo, who does not ride out of Winnipeg and was brought in from Alberta to take all three mounts for Diodoro, did not suffer any injury when Forty Twenty went down.

Diodoro was also a focal point at last year’s Manitoba Derby, which ended in controversial fashion. His horse — Take Charge Tom, which happens to be the half-brother of Forty Twenty — won the 77th running, only to be disqualified for a blatant case of interference by jockey Rasheed Hughes, another import jockey brought in by the trainer.

The victory then went to the second-place finisher, Attack.

Ironically, Attack was also in Monday’s Harvey Warner Manitoba Mile and originally finished third, which was bumped up to second when Go Go Boss was DQ’d. Bergheim, who is in the running for Manitoba horse of the year, moved from second into the winner’s circle.

This marks the second straight Derby night to be marred by a death.

In the second race of the card last year, Blackteca pulled away down the stretch for a close victory — then collapsed seconds after crossing the finish line. Jockey Sven Balroop fell to the ground but walked away unharmed as trainer Steve Keplin Jr. rushed to the side of his horse. Medics and the track vet determined the horse could not be saved.

“For the most part, the injuries can occur not because there was anything wrong with the horse but by a misstep.”

According to Dunn, ASD has one of the lowest rates of on-track deaths in North America. For example, four horses perished in the 2022 season out of 2,450 starts, for an average of 1.63 per 1,000 starts, and those numbers have remained consistent in following years.

As he noted, Forty Twenty is the first casualty this year, which began in May and runs through early October.

“It is something you never get used to, no matter how long you are in the industry,” said Jennifer Morrison, an author and horse racing handicapper for more than 40 years who has also won multiple Sovereign Awards for writing.

“For the most part, the injuries can occur not because there was anything wrong with the horse but by a misstep. But one is too many and tracks and vets and horsepeople need to be better.”

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