Report claims carriage horse died after eating poisonous plant in Central Park

NBC New York reports that a 16-year-old carriage horse named Deniz died in Central Park on June 10 after ingesting a lethal amount of Japanese yew, according to a necropsy released by the Transport Workers Union of America from Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine. The article presents a direct dispute: the union's vice president claims the Central Park Conservancy failed to warn of deadly plants in the park, while the conservancy counters that carriage operators violated park rules by allowing horses to eat vegetation and should have supervised the animal more closely. The reporting includes named sources (TWU Vice President Alexander Kemp, the unnamed carriage driver, and the conservancy), direct quotes from both sides, and corroboration from multiple news outlets (ABC7NY, ABC News, NY Daily News) that confirm the necropsy findings and the blame-shifting between parties. The article provides factual details (horse's age, location, time of collapse, plant species) but lacks independent verification of the necropsy results or expert analysis beyond the union's and conservancy's competing claims—a notable limitation given their obvious vested interests in the outcome. Watch for potential updates on whether the Central Park Conservancy conducts its own investigation, whether the NYCLASS bill to ban carriage horses gains traction in City Council, and if any independent review of park safety protocols emerges.