by FanDuel TV host Ken Rudulph has been taken off the air after making a controversial statement following the unfortunate death of seven horses at Churchill Downs during Kentucky Derby week.
Rudulph posted a tweet on his Twitter account Monday that death, in addition to cheating, was simply part of horse racing. The tweet has since been deleted.
“Horse racing needs to stop pretending and just be what it is,” Rudolph wrote. “It’s a great combination of WWE/reality TV/sports/ with a healthy dose (sic) of BS on the side. It’s a great game. Cheating is part of it. Death is part of it. Losing is part of it. Winning makes it all worthwhile (sic).”
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Spectators watch horses finish a race before the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 5, 2023 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
After receiving backlash for the comment, Rudulph issued an apology Tuesday.
“Monday night I made a mistake and used a very poor choice of words to make what I hoped would be a compelling thought on horse racing,” Rudulph tweeted. “I apologize to my colleagues and the industry for my lack of proper foresight. I really felt that you all would have an open dialogue with me. I will find a better way in the future.”
Despite the apology, FanDuel announced Wednesday that Rudulph would be off the air while he conducted a “full review.”
HORSE SLAUGHTERED AT CHURCHILL DOWNS AFTER BROKEN LEG; HE BECAME THE 8TH PURA SAGRA TO DIE ON THE TRACK IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS
“As the market leader in legal sports betting, FanDuel takes issues of sports integrity and track safety very seriously, and we disagree in the strongest terms with the sentiments expressed by Mr. Rudulph,” FanDuel said in a statement via Ray Paulick. “FanDuel strongly supports equine safety reforms, including our long-standing support of equine retirement and aftercare programs, as well as organizations focused on the health and safety of riders.”
“We also work closely with North American and international sports integrity monitoring agencies to identify any potentially illegal activity that occurs within our racing or sports betting platforms. Pending a full review of this matter, Mr. Rudulph will not appear on FanDuel TV.”
An eighth horse, Rio Moon, broke his leg last Sunday while racing at Churchill Downs, prompting him to be euthanized.
Mage, left, ridden by jockey Javier Castellano, takes the outside of turn 4 during race 149 of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 6, 2023, in Louisville, Kentucky. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
The previous week, seven horses had died from various circumstances, including Wild On Ice, who was one of the horses set to compete in the Derby. Two others died on the undercard of the Derby.
PETA rang at the race track, as well as horse racing in general.
“Churchill Downs is a killing field… They should play ‘Taps’ at the Derby instead of ‘My Old Kentucky Home,'” PETA Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
There were also five scratches in the race, which was the first time since 1936 that had occurred in the Derby. One of them was the morning line favorite, Forte.
Javier Castellano celebrates above Mage after crossing the finish line to win the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 6, 2023, in Louisville, Kentucky. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
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“While PETA appreciates that the Kentucky State Veterinarian exercised caution in ruling out the Derby favorite, we called for the track to be closed so that more stringent protocols could be put in place. Churchill Downs should have listened,” PETA said.
Fox News’ Ryan Morik contributed to this report.
