Stuart Janney III’s Grade 1 racehorse, Five Birds, tragically passed away on November 29th after suffering a fatal injury during training. The initial report came from Daily Racing Form.
According to the New York State Gaming Commission’s horse injury database, the 2-year-old, trained by Shag McGaughey, endured a catastrophic injury to his left front leg as well as a neck injury while working out at Belmont Park. Another horse, Daphne Valentina, involved in the same exercise, was taken to a nearby hospital.
Five Birds had recently won a 6.5-furlong maiden special race by half a length on August 23 at Saratoga’s main track, and finished third by nearly three lengths in the Grade 1 Frizette Stakes on October 4. The horse was a daughter of Maxfield and was raised by her owners in Kentucky.
This report was originally published by the Paulick Report on December 1, 2025, in the Horse Care section.
Fan Take: The loss of a promising young horse like Five Birds is deeply felt by the racing community, highlighting the risks involved in training elite racehorses. This tragedy serves as a reminder of the ongoing need for improved safety measures to protect these incredible athletes and preserve the sport’s future.
