The Calgary Stampede says it will conduct a “thorough review” of chuckwagon safety after six horses died throughout the 2019 Rangeland Derby, making this year’s edition of the event the deadliest in almost a decade.

Three horses were euthanized following injuries sustained during the final evening of chuckwagon races at the Stampede on Sunday, doubling the 10-day competition’s tally of horse deaths.

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The incident happened during the eighth heat, when a chuckwagon rig belonging to driver Evan Salmond went down in the northeast corner of the track.

The right lead horse of Salmond’s wagon sustained a running injury, according to the Stampede. A veterinarian assessed the horse and determined it suffered a fractured left hind cannon bone.

Two other horses belonging to Salmond also sustained “serious” leg injuries. The Stampede said they were cared for immediately on the track, but a veterinary team determined there was no option for treatment.

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“This is as upsetting to us as it is to our community, and is challenging for us,” the Stampede said in a statement early Monday morning. “The Stampede’s commitment to the safety of animals and the conditions of their participation in our events is paramount to our values and brand integrity. We will continue to be open in our communication with our community.”

Photo by Mike Drew/Postmedia

The incident capped off a grim week for Salmond’s outfit, after one of his animals died and three more sustained minor injuries in a collision on Thursday.

Stampede officials determined that driver Chad Harden impeded the wagon of fellow driver Danny Ringuette, causing it to collide with Salmond’s outfit. His was the third chuckwagon horse to die over the course of the week.

None of those injured horses were part of Salmond’s quartet on Sunday, according to the Stampede.

The Stampede took Harden’s “driver error” seriously, disqualifying him from racing for the remainder of the 2019 Stampede and fining him $10,000. He is required to also pay an additional $10,000 to Salmond for the cost of his fallen horse.

Harden’s unprecedented disqualification means he also faces a potential lifetime ban. He will not be invited to compete in the future but has the option of applying for reinstatement in any given year.

Earlier in the week, a horse belonging to driver Obrey Motowylo was euthanized following an injury sustained during Wednesday’s chuckwagon races. The Stampede said the horse was assessed by a veterinarian, who determined a fractured left front radius left “no option for treatment.”

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Another chuckwagon horse died of “a serious internal medical condition” in what’s considered a suspected heart attack after falling to the track during Monday’s races.

Sunday’s deadly race brought the total number of horse deaths at the 2019 Stampede to six, the most since six chuckwagon horses also died in 2010.

Mike Drew/Postmedia

One chuckwagon horse has died in each of the past two years at the Stampede, while 2016 went without a single animal death. Four horses died in 2015.

The high toll of 2019 has prompted renewed calls by animal rights groups to ban chuckwagon and rodeo events at the Stampede.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals supporters planned to gather Tuesday outside Premier Jason Kenney’s office, wearing horse masks “to make the point that horses’ lives count,” and calling for an end to the chuckwagon races.

“The deadly chuckwagon races are an ugly throwback to a more ignorant time and are staining Calgary’s reputation,” PETA president Ingrid Newkirk said in a statement.

The Canadian Professional Chuckwagon Association declined to comment about the recent horse injuries when reached Monday, instead deferring to the Calgary Stampede.

In a statement, the Stampede said it was “committed to initiating a thorough review process surrounding chuckwagon safety” in light of this year’s incidents.

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“We’re less than 24 hours out of Stampede, so we don’t know at this point what form that process is going to take,” said Stampede spokeswoman Kristina Barnes, adding a timeline has not yet been set for the review.

“As for what we’re hoping to learn, again, it kind of defeats the purpose of the process if we go into it with preconceived ideas of what we want to achieve.”

Barnes said the Stampede remains confident in its safety measures, which include veterinary checks for each horse that arrives at Stampede Park and prior to races.

“As a responsible organization that exists for the benefit of our community, if we find that adjustments need to be made, then we will make them,” Barnes said.

“There are some things that we just can’t predict or prevent, despite all of the veterinary inspections, all of the care to the horses and the track. There are some things that we can’t anticipate.”

—With files from Stephanie Babych, Alanna Smith and Todd Saelhof