Edited Churchill Downs press release

While veterinarians at a Central Kentucky equine hospital continue their search for the disease that felled Kentucky Derby (Grade I) contender With a City, his owner and trainer said colt’s sudden death is another example of “lowest lows” that often accompany the thrills of Thoroughbred racing.

The 3-year-old winner of the $500,000 Lane’s End Stakes (GII) at Turfway Park was humanely euthanatized Sunday morning at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, Ky. after nearly three days of unsuccessful treatment for an unidentified illness that struck the colt suddenly on Thursday afternoon. Trainer Mike Maker said Hagyard staff is continuing its effort to identify the illness that attacked With a City and hopes to have more definitive information within a week.

Maker said With a City was fine until mid-afternoon Thursday, when the colt began to display clinical signs of diarrhea, which can become a serious problem for a horse. He sent With a City to the Lexington clinic to treatment, but the colt subsequently started to suffer from seizures as his condition rapidly worsened.  Maker said the colt was “beating himself up,” although he had been sedated by veterinarians