Santa Anita closes main track for tests after equine fatalities

Management at Santa Anita Park have announced the closure of the main track on Tuesday "to fully evaluate sub-surface conditions, such as moisture content and soil consistency" following discussions with the California Horse Racing Board related to an increased number of fatalities at the track this season.

If that evaluation indicates that the track is in prime condition, they have ruled that regularly scheduled training will resume on Wednesday and live racing will proceed on Thursday.

The training track, which sits on the inside of the turf course, will remain open for training throughout the process.

Mick Peterson, the director of the University of Kentucky's Agricultural Equine Programs, the body responsible for evaluating soil samples from Santa Anita on a monthly basis, will be present at the track for the review.

Santa Anita track superintendent Andy LaRocco and his staff will "peel back the track’s cushion to a depth of approximately five inches, where a thorough examination of the base can be undertaken."

Initially, the original plan was to close the main track for training on Monday and Tuesday. However that move was immediately opposed by multiple trainers, including Hall of Famers Jerry Hollendorfer and Bob Baffert, who voiced concerns to management, according to the Stronach Group's chief operating officer Tim Ritvo.

Bob Baffert: plans to train horses at Santa Anita on MondayCredit: Mario Tama

Ritvo said the group of trainers indicated they had important workouts scheduled on Monday and they were "comfortable" working some of their best horses over the surface – leading to the track management's decision to allow training for Monday.

Hollendorfer previously stated he plans to breeze the OXO Racing-owned three-year-old Instagrand on Monday, and jockey Javier Castellano is flying out from the east coast to work the horse in preparation for the Group 2 San Felipe Stakes on March 9.

On Saturday, the Hollendorfer-trained Grade 1 winner Battle Of Midwaywas one of two horses who were fatally injured during workouts on the main track.

"If they hadn't told me they were completely comfortable with it, we wouldn't be doing it," Ritvo said.

Ritvo emphasised he felt the track was safe but acknowledged the track's composition is different because of frequent and heavy rains this winter in California. Ritvo said the Santa Anita main track has more clay than east coast tracks that handle rain better, and when heavy rains hit the clay gets more compact.

"I honestly don't think there's a problem, but weather has been a factor," said Ritvo. "We had to float it a lot, so it's tighter than it has been.

"This is tough for us to do, but we're doing it as a precaution, even though we don't think there are any issues. The number one reason I'm here is because I'm a horseman and the number one priority is safety."

While equine fatalities are up over recent years, assigning blame to a racing surface as a reason for the increase in deaths is not clear-cut. According to the CHRB, since the beginning of Santa Anita's season on December 26, there have been 18 equine fatalities during racing or training.

From the 11 fatalities that have occurred because of injuries during racing, six have come from injuries on the main track and five have come from the turf.

Of the seven fatalities from training, one was classified as a "sudden death" by the CHRB, meaning it was not related to a physical musculoskeletal injury. The other six were from injuries sustained on the main track, and none were associated with injuries on the training track.

Over the last three seasons, the fatality numbers at Santa Anita were ten in 2018 (three racing on dirt, three racing on turf, and four in training); eight in 2017 (four racing on dirt, two racing on turf, and two in training); and 14 in 2016 (four racing on dirt, two racing on turf, and eight in training).

"There are so many different factors, it's not just one thing," said Ritvo. "The track is obviously one factor, but there are so many other elements that go into it."

Ritvo admitted he was somewhat "nervous" that training will be conducted on Monday, because despite feeling the main track to be safe, any type of injury sustained prior to testing would compound what is already a complicated and emotional issue.

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