Kentucky Derby 2012

Kentucky Derby 2012, A body found in a stable the morning after the Kentucky Derby was being treated as a murder, police said.

An unidentified man was found around 4.30am in a barn at Churchill Downs, close to where the winning horse I’ll Have Another was being kept.

The victim was said to have no connection to the racing world, according to Louisville Metro Police.

Police said the man’s body was found in barn number eight, hours after the race track had hosted the 138th Kentucky Derby.

Police were continuing to investigate and a coroner had been called to the scene.

Barn eight had been cordoned off, just yards away from where winning horse I’ll Have Another was housed.

The Derby winner and his trainers were busy with media activities today, with little talk of the investigation at the barn.

Trainer Angel Montano told ABC that one of his employees found the body when he arrived for work.

A week after the Kentucky Derby last year, jockey Michael Baze’s body was found in a vehicle near the stables at the famed Louisville track. His death was ruled an accidental overdose.

On Saturday, the track saw a record attendance of more than 165,000 for the 138th running of the Derby.

Thousands of racegoers including actress Ginnifer Goodwin, country singer Miranda Lambert and Miss America Laura Kaeppeler had been at the track earlier in the day to watch the race won by I’ll Have Another, who came from behind to beat Bodemeister.

The track superintendent at Churchill Downs had cancelled morning training for the Kentucky Derby and its 13-race card after a night of thunderstorms.

The main track, which is dirt, was labelled ‘sloppy’ at 8am, but was called ‘fast’ shortly after noon, meaning that the Derby would continue as scheduled.

A general state of eager anticipation could be felt around the paddocks as Derby attendees paraded their hats and waited for the big race.

Until the final furlong, I’ll Have Another looked like just any other horse at the Derby.