On November 25, FedEx informed operators of equine air travel via email that it would halt operations until January due to the FAA grounding all MD-11 cargo planes for inspections and repairs. This FAA action followed the crash of a UPS-operated MD-11 plane shortly after takeoff in Louisville, Kentucky, on November 4, an accident that claimed 14 lives and is still under investigation.
Several East Coast horses were en route to Del Mar for the Turf Festival Stakes scheduled for the weekend. Trainer Graham Motion was preparing to send G2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap winner Heredia back to Del Mar on Tuesday for Sunday’s G1 Matriarch, with confirmation that flights were still allowed on that day. Motion’s other horses had already arrived in California, but the suspension means he might need to transport them back east by van or leave them in California after this weekend’s meet, altering usual travel plans typically managed before FedEx cuts equine flights in mid-December during the busy holiday season.
Similarly, Trainer Todd Pletcher announced the cancellation of Noble Confessor’s flight to the G1 Hollywood Derby. Jockey Michael Stidham noted that his horse Tom’s Magic was transported by van from New Orleans to Memphis to catch a flight to California, expressing doubt that the horse will fly again anytime soon. David Jerkens, VP of Racing for Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, confirmed that Noble Confessor was the only horse definitively affected by the FedEx pause, and that horses from several other top trainers are still expected to arrive in California on flights scheduled prior to the suspension.
Since May 2021, FedEx has been the sole equine air travel provider in the U.S. after Tex Sutton’s private plane was grounded. Approximately 10 equine travel agents, including Tex Sutton, use FedEx flights to move horses. FedEx has 28 MD-11 planes, which are key for carrying horses across the country. The grounding of these planes reduces available cargo space, making horse transport more challenging during this peak holiday season when FedEx traditionally halts horse flights from mid-December to early January to manage holiday freight volume.
FedEx’s early suspension ahead of this usual period has caused many Thoroughbred horse flights to be canceled. Horse travel agent Angela Cornes mentioned that FedEx is looking for possible solutions but operations remain on hold. The duration of the FAA inspection for MD-11 aircraft is unknown, but even if planes aren’t cleared by January 1, Cornes believes FedEx might still operate at least one major route between New York and California.
Fan Take: This disruption in equine air transport could seriously impact scheduling and training for racehorses, especially during a critical part of the racing calendar. Fans should watch closely, as travel difficulties may affect which horses compete and ultimately influence the outcomes of key races.
