Another horse’s death linked to Santa Anita, marking the 27th since start of the track’s racing season

A 2-year-old colt died following a routine workout this week at Santa Anita, the 27th horse to die at the beleaguered Arcadia track since the opening of its racing meet in late December.

Following a 46-day period without any horses dying, the death of Derby River, a colt that had not yet been entered in a race, marked the fourth since May 17.

The horse broke its shoulder while galloping at around 8 a.m. Wednesday during a routine workout, said Mike Willman, a spokesman for Santa Anita Park.

Derby River’s injury did not come from a fall, but likely a misstep, Willman said.

After negative X-ray scans of the horse’s ankle from a private veterinarian at the track, the trainer, Ruben Gomez, decided to transport the colt to Chino Valley Equine Hospital where the horse eventually was euthanized.

Though the horse died in Chino, the California Horse Racing Board recorded the incident as a Santa Anita fatality.

“For full transparency and integrity, we’re gonna count that as a Santa Anita death,” said Mike Marten, spokesman for the CHRB.

The horse had arrived at the track about one month ago after being purchased from a Florida sale for $50,000. Willman said the horse already had run three timed-workouts at which veterinarians examined the horse before the sessions.

Since racing at Santa Anita opened Dec. 26, eight horses have died on the main track during live racing. Twelve deaths have occurred during morning training and six over the turf course. One of the deaths was the result of a heart attack.

The surge in horse deaths has drawn national attention and heavy scrutiny from lawmakers, authorities and animal rights activists..

In April, Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey formed a task force to investigate whether illegal conduct or conditions affected the safety of the horses at Santa Anita.

A month earlier, the DA’s office said it would conduct an investigation into the deaths, alongside a state investigation headed by CHRB. The announcements had come after pressure from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals who had called for an investigation into the use of medications that may have masked injuries before races, staging protests at the track.

PETA said it would investigate circumstances surrounding the latest death.

“Derby River’s death today at only 2 years old is yet another reason why people want to see an end to racing, but the least that must be done right now is for tracks to put scanning equipment in place to detect pre-existing leg and shoulder injuries and for measures to be taken to ensure that young horses aren’t seriously injured before their bones are even mature,” said Kathy Guillermo, senior vice president of PETA in a statement

Also in March, U.S. Rep. Judy Chu, D-Monterey Park called on the House Energy and Commerce Committee to investigate and hold hearings on the treatment of horses at Santa Anita and throughout the country. She also demanded the Arcadia racetrack be closed until it was certain the horses are safe.

On May 31, following the death of a 26th horse, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced his support for Senate Bill 469 which would give CHRB the authority to suspend horse racing licenses in cases where the safety of a horse is a concern.

Stronach Group President Belinda Stronach, whose group owns the racetrack recently tightened its rules on the use of medication. Under the new rules, trainers can only use therapeutic medications after a veterinarian’s diagnosis. Trainers are also required to submit an application to veterinarians 48 hours in advance of any officially times training sessions.

The racetrack also has invested in new $500,000 technology that will help veterinarians detect injuries previously undetectable with the current equipment. Willman said the technology will be in use by September.

Staff writer Jason Henry and City News Service contributed to this report.