Racetrack fans witnessed a gruesome breakdown of a racehorse on the front stretch at Saturday's race. Emtech was running clear down the stretch during the eighth race when he broke both front legs. The 3-year-old colt crashed to the ground, sending jockey Mario Gutierrez over the horse and to the dirt surface.
Scenic view of horse racing at Santa AnitaScenic view of horse racing at Santa Anita
The death of Emtech will intensify the debate over the safety of horse racing.
© 2019 by Santa Anita Race Track
The death occurred on the second day of the 23-day meeting. Southern California hadn’t had a thoroughbred racing fatality since June 9, when Truffalino died at Santa Anita. Since then, there have been six training deaths, one during the previous Santa Anita meeting, four at Del Mar and one Sept. 16 at Santa Anita when the track was open for training but not racing.
Track veterinarians were immediately on site and made the decision to euthanize the horse on the track. Gutierrez remained on the ground and a stretcher was brought out, but he got up on his own power and was taken to the first-aid center. Gutierrez was uninjured but was taken off his final mount of the day.
According to a track spokesperson, “Emtech will undergo a necropsy at the UC Davis school of veterinary medicine, as is mandatory for all on-track accidents. 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.”
The death of Emtech will intensify the debate over the safety of horse racing. In the midst of the spate of fatalities earlier this year, Santa Anita instituted a series of veterinary and medication reforms and fatality rate dropped dramatically. In addition, the state created a panel of medical and safety experts that evaluates the soundness and risks in each horse that was racing at Santa Anita, Del Mar and Los Alamitos.
Information provided by CHRB