Report: U.S. senator urges examination of Medina Spirit death

U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein has called for a "thorough and transparent examination" into the death of Medina Spirit at Santa Anita on Monday.

“Seeing any horse die on the race track is tragic, but the sudden death of a champion horse like Medina Spirit is particularly jarring,” Feinstein told the Los Angeles Times.

California's senior senator said an examination should determine whether all education and training protocols were followed.

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The Times noted that Feinstein was a major voice in 2019, when 37 horses died at Santa Anita. She acknowledged that improvements have been made, telling the Times, “Governor [Gavin] Newsom has transformed the California Horse Racing Board and its staff over the last couple of years and I expect they’ll treat this matter with the seriousness and professionalism it deserves.”

Feinstein was a co-sponsor of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, which is slated to implement a national authority in June. The act is being challenged with several lawsuits.