Horse racing: Key Kentucky Derby prep race off at Santa Anita

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Reuters) – A big weekend of racing inclusive of a check for Kentucky Derby hopefuls will not take vicinity at famed Santa Anita on Saturday as officers seek to discover what led to the deaths of 21 horses at the Southern California track within the ultimate two months. The San Felipe Stakes for three-year-old Kentucky Derby contenders and the Santa Anita Handicap for older horses have been suspended after Santa Anita called off horse racing indefinitely on Tuesday. Unbeaten two-year-antique champion and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Game Winner was expected to make his 2019 debut in the San Felipe Stakes at the side of stablemate Improbable. Since overdue December, 21 horses have been euthanised after suffering catastrophic accidents at Santa Anita’s primary dust song whilst either racing or schooling. The track, first opened to racing in 1934, has performed a key position in the U.S.

Thoroughbred horse racing, frequently website hosting fundamental races together with the Breeders’ Cup. Meanwhile, Santa Anita’s six-furlongs (three-quarters of a mile) inner exercise tune reopened on Friday after being inspected using veteran trackman Dennis Moore and Mick Peterson from the University of Kentucky’s Racing Surfaces Testing Lab. No deaths have befallen at the workout song, and Moore said he changed into “happy with it,” the racetrack mentioned. Only galloping or going for walks may be approved. “Like all athletes, horses need to live life, so this is a superb selection for their general health since it lets in our horses to get out of their stalls and maintains them transferring to aid their digestion,” Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert stated in a statement.

Horse racing: Key Kentucky Derby prep race off at Santa Anita 1

More intense but constrained workouts can also start on the education song on Monday, with walking and galloping probably also being accredited on the principal song starting on Monday, Tim Ritvo, leader operating officer of song owner The Stronach Group, informed Daily Racing Form on Friday. He stated everyday workouts might be multiplied by the primary song by using next weekend. Depending on the final results of the inspection and climate, racing could probably resume at the song on March 21, he stated.