A sudden death
A contender for the upcoming Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile has passed away at the end of a morning gallop. Practical Move was galloping around the Santa Anita track on Monday when he collapsed. The rider was not hurt and the cause of death is currently believed to be a “sudden cardiac event.”
he was victorious in five of his eight career runs
Practical Move was second in the early betting for Saturday’s race and he was victorious in five of his eight career runs, including at the Santa Anita Derby. He was unable to take part in this year’s Kentucky Derby as a result of a fever despite being one of the favorites, staying off the track for about six months.
Practical Move is just the latest in a long list of horses to have died in the American racing scene this year, causing growing concern among animal welfare advocates.
Reaction to the news
Practical Move was set to line up in Saturday’s opening race. The meeting’s organizers released a statement after his death, outlining the extensive work that goes into making sure that stringent safety protocols are in place.
Animal rights organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) was quick to call for better protections to come into place for horses, including suspending trainers when a horse dies and utilizing better screening equipment. PETA Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo noted that at least 71 horses have died this year in the California racing scene alone.
An important matter
Horse deaths have been a big topic of discussion over the past year or so. Many passed away recently at some of the country’s leading racetracks, including Churchill Downs and Saratoga Race Course.
The track ultimately reopened after a probe revealed no issues
Churchill Downs even shut down for a few months over the summer due to a dozen horses dying in just a month. The remainder of the Kentucky track’s spring meeting races took place at Ellis Park while investigations went on. The track ultimately reopened after a probe revealed no issues.
More than a dozen horses died during the summer’s racing at Saratoga, while a number of high-profile fatalities also took place at Belmont Park in New York.