Fatality mars Santa Anita Park's San Simeon Stakes
As the field crossed from downhill turf over the main track Sunday at Santa Anita Park, the 5-year-old gelding Arms Runner fell, triggering a spill that marred the running of the featured Grade 3, $100,000 San Simeon Stakes.
It was the first such incident since Santa Anita resumed racing Friday following a temporary halt to racing in Arcadia, Calif., during which track officials examined the dirt surface and instituted medication rules changes in response to an above-average rate of equine fatalities.
Under jockey Martin Pedroza, Arms Runner "took a bad step on the dirt crossing, appeared injured and fell," according to the official chart. The trailing 5-year-old mare La Sardane, ridden by Ruben Fuentes, subsequently tripped over him.
It was unclear whether Arms Runner lost his balance transitioning from turf to dirt or broke down. He was vanned off. A statement provided by Santa Anita Park confirmed the injury was fatal.
La Sardane did not sustain reported injuries, according to the statements, and both jockeys were examined on site and released.
"While this incident happened during competition on a track that has been deemed by
independent experts to be safe, we are working closely with the California Horse Racing Board to
understand if there was anything additional that we could have done to prevent today’s tragedy," the statement says.
"Today’s incident speaks to the larger issue of catastrophic injuries in horse racing that The Stronach
Group together with our industry stakeholders are working to solve throughout California and across the
country.”
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Arms Runner, a Peter Miller-trained Rockingham Ranch runner, won a stakes in 2017 and entered the San Simeon off a local allowance optional claiming victory. Including him, 23 equine fatalities have now occurred in racing and training at Santa Anita since the current meet began Dec. 26.
Kathy Guillermo, senior vice president of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, released a statement in response to Arms runner's death:
"Over the past two weeks, Thoroughbred owners and trainers and the California Horse Racing Board have argued about medications, whipping, and the public perception of horse racing. But they did not take every measure needed to protect the horses. Both horses ran on the drug Lasix, which is known to cause dehydration and electrolyte loss. All drugs need to be banned entirely, and the known-safest racing surface — a synthetic track — must be used.
"Furthermore, PETA calls on Governor (Gavin) Newsom to urgently form an independent panel to investigate the training and veterinary practices in California racing, including the use of bisphosphonates and other medications that reportedly have been used indiscriminately. If the CHRB does not take every possible action to protect the horses, then racing should not be allowed to continue."