According to Chris Proudman, a professor of equine studies at the University of Liverpool's EquineHospital, the first fence is statistically the most hazardous in the entire race.
Late last Wednesday night, Stonestreet Farm announced that 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra had been taken to Rood and Riddle EquineHospital following complications from foaling.
Dr. LARRY BRAMLAGE (Equine Orthopedic Surgeon, Rood and Riddle EquineHospital): I'm always amazed that some of the best patients learning to adapt to the problems are some of the biggest, toughest colts.