Mike Martin, public information officer for the California Horse Racing Board, has confirmed that 19 horses have died since the Santa Anita Park in Arcadia -- about 17 miles northeast of Los Angeles -- opened for the season on Dec. 26.
Horses racing at Santa Anita Track
Mike Martin, officer for the California Horse Racing Board, has confirmed that 19 horses have died since the Santa Anita Park in Arcadia opened on Dec. 26.
© 2018 by Santa Anita Race Track
The horse racing track in Southern California has closed as employees seek to determine whether the soil and the excess rain in the area have contributed to the rising death toll of horses.
These deaths are double the number of horses that died during the same time period last year. Three horses died in a 16-hour period, one of which was 6-year-old Breeders' Cup winner Battle of Midway, according to the LA Times.
The park closed its main track on Monday and Tuesday to evaluate the surface conditions of the track. Regular training will resume if the testing indicates that the soil is in prime condition.
The area has experienced more than 11 inches of rain and "near-record cold temperatures" in the past month, which may have impacted the condition of the soil, according to the park. The track surface is tested and evaluated on a daily basis, the park said.
Between July 1, 2017, and June 30, 2018, the park had 44 fatalities during the seven-month racing season, the LA Times reported. Ten of the deaths occurred during dirt racing and 17 deaths occurred during dirt training, according to the newspaper.
This past Saturday's races concluded with no serious injuries or fatalities, according to the LA Times. The California Horse Racing Board is observing and making recommendations for the evaluation of the track but it is not involved in the testing, Martin said.
Press release by Santa Anita Race Track News