Tragedy mars Laurel Park opener as debuter Hit Zero dies after race

Hit Zero’s first start ended in a fatal cardiac event, turning Laurel Park’s Black-Eyed Susan Day opener into a welfare story within minutes. The Maryland Racing Commission said the 3-year-old died on Friday, May 15, 2026, after Race 1 at Laurel, with veterinary personnel responding immediately and the track’s Equine Medical Director starting a full post-incident review under Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority fatality-reporting requirements. A necropsy will be conducted before the cause of death is formally confirmed.

The horse was trained by Brittany Russell and owned by ItsTheJHo, LLC, and Evan Trommer. Other reporting identified Hit Zero as a Twirling Candy colt out of the Jump Start mare Victory Rally, and said he went off as the 9-5 favorite in a six-furlong dirt maiden race restricted under the Maryland-bred condition. He was forwardly placed early, eased late and finished last of eight. For a horse making his debut, the result was supposed to be the start of a campaign; instead, it became an abrupt end that put the spotlight on the risks built into the sport’s daily routine.

The timing made the loss even more stark. Laurel’s card on May 15 was Black-Eyed Susan Day, with first post at 11:30 a.m., and the track’s 2026 Preakness meet runs from May 4 through June 30, with live racing from May 8 through June 28. The incident landed as Preakness weekend festivities were beginning, when Laurel was already under unusually intense public attention and animal advocates were preparing protests around the broader event.

The Maryland Racing Commission said it has begun all required review and investigation protocols and will disclose findings after the necropsy review is complete. Justin Horowitz said he did not question the care the horse received before his death. Even before a cause is formally confirmed, the case is likely to sharpen scrutiny on Laurel’s veterinary oversight, the handling inside Brittany Russell’s barn and the track’s local response procedures, all under the wider pressure of Maryland’s ongoing safety record. One outlet cited Horseracing Wrongs data saying 426 horses have died at Maryland tracks since 2014, a number that will now be folded into another hard conversation about what racing owes the horses it depends on.