Watch CBS News

Another Horse Dies At Santa Anita Park, Second This Race Season

ARCADIA (CBSLA) — After a year that saw more than three dozen horse deaths, Santa Anita held its first race of the new season Dec. 28.

But less than five days later, the track saw its second horse death of the winter-spring meet — the 39th horse to die since December 2018.

Golden Birthday, a 4-year-old gelding, sustained a hind pastern fracture with sesamoid involvement after possibly making contact with another horse on the turn during a race on the main track, according to an incident report from Santa Anita Park.

The horse was euthanized upon the recommendation of veterinarians. As is standard, a necropsy will be performed on the animal.

RELATED: Santa Anita Park Introduces New Tech To Keep Horses Safe In Wake Of Deaths

PETA issued a statement following the latest death that read, in part:

"2020 should be the year that either the deaths stop or horse racing does. Right now, racing must be suspended. California officials have made substantial improvements to protect horses, but they're not done yet."

The first horse death of the season happened Dec. 26, before the track officially opened. Truest Reward, a 3-year-old gelding, sustained a broken left front leg while on the training track.

The California Horse Racing Board is expected to release the results of its investigation into the deaths at Santa Anita sometime this month.

The Los Angeles County district attorney's office found no criminal wrongdoing in its investigation into the fatalities.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.