Tyler's Tribe Suffers EIPH in BC Juvenile Turf Sprint

After suffering exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage during the race, Tyler's Tribe  was vanned off the Keeneland course after completing the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T) Nov. 4.

An on-call veterinarian from the American Association of Equine Practitioners provided an update on his condition after the 5 1/2-furlong sprint.

"Most of the time in racing that's from their chest, from their lung, from capillary rupture," said vet Al Ruggles of the EIPH incident. "And it's a common occurrence—it happens in all athletes, human athletes as well. They don't usually overtly bleed, but sometimes they do."

After loading on the van shortly after the finish, the horse was driven back to the barn to be scoped, Ruggles said. "He seemed stable when they loaded him."

Ruggles said no physical issues other than the bleeding were observed.

"We know how to treat it," Ruggles said. "They usually require some rest, for sure."

Tyler's Tribe broke second in the race and held the lead after a quarter mile. He was second after three furlongs before stopping around the turn and being eased in the stretch. Jockey Kylee Jordan safely pulled up the son of Sharp Azteca   shortly after the wire and dismounted.

It was the first time in six starts that the Iowa-bred did not race with the diuretic furosemide, which commonly is known as Lasix and is administered in an attempt to prevent or reduce the severity of EIPH during racing. All of his prior starts were at Prairie Meadows.

The medication is not allowed in Breeders' Cup races, a policy in line with international standards as well as most major stakes races—and juvenile races—in the United States. The Breeders' Cup's current policy on race-day Lasix (or furosemide) covering all its World Championships races began in 2021.