A collision between two wagons during a chuckwagon race has been blamed for a fatal injury to a Thoroughbred horse participating in this year’s Calgary Stampede.

The annual Calgary Stampede features rodeo-style competitions and livestock exhibitions, including the GMC Rangeland Derby Chuckwagon race. Some animal welfare advocates have criticized the chuckwagon races on grounds that the events put horses at risk for undue stress, injury, and death. On July 8, the opening day of this year’s Stampede, a Thoroughbred was euthanized after sustaining a broken cannon bone during a chuckwagon race.

On July 15 wagons driven by Jim Knight and Cliff Cunningham collided. Following the race, veterinarians diagnosed one of Knight’s horses with a leg fracture. The animal was euthanized as a result of the injury, Stampede spokesman Doug Fraser said.

After a review of the incident the Stampede’s Chuckwagon Safety Commission declared the injury was directly connected to the collision