Another horse has died from a catastrophic injury while racing at California’s notorious Santa Anita Park — marking the 32nd death there in a year.
Emtech, a 3-year-old colt, broke both front legs while running clear down the stretch during the eighth race Saturday during the track’s opening weekend.
Workers put up a green screen to shield the foundering colt, which was euthanized on the track.
Two-time Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Mario Gutierrez was tossed in the incident and taken to the first aid center. Track officials later said he was not injured.
The death of Emtech is the latest tragedy at Santa Anita since Dec. 26 and comes just days after California Gov. Gavin Newsom called horse racing “a sport whose time is up unless they reform.”
“Incredible abuses to these precious animals and the willingness to just to spit these animals out and literally take their lives is a disgrace.” he told the New York Times.
The death also came as animal rights protesters were outside the track, which is set to host the Breeders’ Cup world championships in November.
“This is despicable. This is grotesque. This is not a sport,” protester Andrew Lesser told CBS Los Angeles.
The California Horse Racing Board and the LA County District Attorney’s Office have launched investigations into the deaths, but no conclusions have been released, the LA Times noted.
“D.A. [Jackie] Lacey needs to release the findings on the culpability of trainers and veterinarians who may have used drugs, knee joint injections, and other dangerous methods to keep injured horses racing,” Kathy Guillermo, senior vice president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, told the paper.
The track’s chief veterinarian, Dr. Dionne Benson, said an “immediate review” has been opened into Emtech’s death.
“The accident and the necropsy report will be reviewed by a team to learn what, if anything, could have been done to have prevented the accident,” Benson told the Times.
With Post wires