Zeke Becomes 31st Horse to Die Since Dec. 26 at Santa Anita Race Track

Four-year-old gelding Zeke died during training at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, on Monday, marking the 31st horse fatality at the track since Dec. 26.

According to John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times, Zeke suffered a pelvic fracture on the training track and had to be euthanized as a result.

Per Cherwa, it has been 14 weeks since a horse died as a result of racing, but five training deaths have occurred in Southern California since Santa Anita's closing day on June 23.

The Stronach Group chief veterinarian Dr. Dionne Benson vowed to look into the situation:

"Everyone at Santa Anita and throughout The Stronach Group is devastated by the loss. We are carefully reviewing what factors could have contributed to Zeke's injury. Santa Anita will continue to work closely with the California Horse Racing Board and will continue to be transparent with our stakeholders and all of our constituents, including the public, as more facts come in."

Santa Anita officials reported that before Zeke's death, there had been 1,034 consecutive training sessions without incident.

According to Cherwa, officials noted that after reforms were put in place, racing fatalities dropped by 58 percent from 4.40 deaths per 1,000 starts to 1.86, which was still slightly above the national average of 1.68.

A reduction in race-day Lasix is one of the reforms that was instituted, but Cherwa noted that cutting back on the medication meant to prevent bleeding from the lungs has not been proved to lessen injury risk.

Zeke's last race was a fifth-place finish at Del Mar in a claiming race on Aug. 29.

Santa Anita's fall meet is set to begin Sept. 27.