Opening day of Preakness weekend at Laurel Park turned grim Friday when Hit Zero, a 3-year-old thoroughbred, collapsed and died shortly after finishing the first race on Black-Eyed Susan Day. Track veterinarians rushed to the horse, and officials say a necropsy has been ordered to determine the official cause of death.
State racing officials identified the colt as Hit Zero and told CBS Baltimore that the horse "died of a cardiac event." According to the outlet, Hit Zero was trained by Brittany Russell and owned by ItsTheJHo, LLC, and Evan Trommer. The track's Equine Medical Director launched a full post-incident review under Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority reporting rules, and veterinarians responded immediately after the collapse.
How often does this happen?
Hit Zero's death is the latest in a series of on-track fatalities at Maryland racetracks. The nonprofit Horseracing Wrongs tracked Friday's incident and maintains a running tally of racehorse deaths at tracks across the state. Advocates point to hundreds of confirmed fatalities since 2014 as evidence that the industry still needs stronger safety measures and clearer post-mortem reporting.
Track history and safety steps
Laurel Park has been in the hot seat before. Racing at the track was temporarily halted in 2023 after a cluster of deaths prompted a state review, which in turn produced recommendations on how the racing surface should be handled and what additional safety steps were needed, according to the Baltimore Banner.
The Maryland Jockey Club's May 15 Laurel Park program listed Black-Eyed Susan Day and showed Hit Zero entered in the opening race, which helps explain why the death drew such quick and intense attention during Preakness week.
What officials will look for
Officials told CBS Baltimore that a necropsy will be performed to confirm the cause of death and that the Equine Medical Director's review will be submitted under Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority reporting requirements. Animal-welfare organizations and local advocates are expected to seize on the timing of the fatality during Preakness week as they continue to push for added safety reforms.
The Maryland Racing Commission, which regulates pari-mutuel racing in Maryland and oversees incident-reporting protocols, will receive the post-incident documentation and necropsy findings, according to the commission's website. Those results are typically reflected in regulatory filings and will be closely watched by trainers, regulators, and advocates as the rest of the Preakness weekend unfolds.
