'Frustrating': Vets discuss the Medina Spirit necropsy results

Veterinarians involved in the necropsy of Medina Spirit expressed frustration over the inability to pinpoint an exact cause of the colt’s death during a press conference on Friday, which also included California Horse Racing Board executive director Scott Chaney.

When it comes to sudden deaths in horses, studies have found a cause is conclusively determined in only about half of all cases. In about one-quarter of cases, a “presumptive cause” can be established, while with the remainder, no specific cause of death is ever determined.

[Related: No definitive cause of death for Medina Spirit]

In Medina Spirit's case, a definitive cause for his death could not be established. The report only states “sudden cardiorespiratory arrest/cardiac failure” as the suspected cause of death.

“Sudden deaths in racehorses has been extremely frustrating for a long time, and not just in California, but throughout the U.S. and across the world,” said Dr. Ashley Hill, director of the California Animal Health and Food Safety laboratory at UC-Davis. “It’s a recognized issue that there are horses that drop dead during or shortly after exercise. It’s been extremely frustrating to try and figure out what’s going on.”

Dr. Francisco Uzal, who was also part of the investigation team, added sudden deaths are not just an issue for racehorses. It covers the entire equine spectrum.

“We see this in all kinds of horses, including working horses and backyard horses,” Uzal said. “It’s not just racing horses.”

He and other pointed out current research includes how heredity may play a role in sudden deaths among both equine and human athletes. 

Chaney noted that with one exception, Medina Spirit’s necropsy was conducted in the same manner as that of any other horse that dies at a CHRB-licensed facility.

“The only difference was we requested a peer review by two world renowned pathologists,” Chaney said in reference to Dr. Laura Kennedy of the University of Kentucky and Dr. Grant Maxie of the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada.

Both Kennedy and Maxie agreed with the report’s conclusion that cardiac failure was the likely cause of Medina Spirit's death, but it could not be determined conclusively.

Also part of the investigation team was Dr. Benjamin Moeller, who touched on the testing and chemicals found in Medina Spirit’s system. Only Lasix and and Omeprazole, an anti-ulcer medication, were detected.

“We are always trying to expand our drug testing and to look for new chemicals that may be of concern. But in this case, there were no suggestions of any unidentified compounds,” Moeller said.

Uzal added that from a diagnostic standpoint, “the case is closed” with regards to Medina Spirit. However, there will be a review of the necropsy report pursuant to CHRB rules. That will be led by Dr. Alina Vale, Chaney said.

“We’ll have an interview with the trainer and the veterinarian, and we’ll submit a report,” he added. “When that review is complete, we’ll seek the owner’s permission to produce it unredacted given the interest in this case.

“If that process revealed any regulatory violations, then obviously CHRB investigators would complete an investigation and file a complaint,” Chaney said.