necropsy | Horse Racing Free Tips

Report: Medina Spirit Samples Will Go To More Than One Lab

The Los Angeles Times reported Thursday that test samples from Medina Spirit, who died suddenly on Monday, will be tested by multiple laboratories. The University of California-Davis laboratory will conduct the actual necropsy, but writer John Cherwa revealed samples will be sent to labs outside the set for “a fresh set of eyes and compare to the conclusions arrived at UC Davis.”

Medina Spirit collapsed following a timed workout at Santa Anita Park for trainer Bob Baffert, and died quickly with no obvious outward sign of anything amiss. In these cases of “sudden death,” Cherwa writes that more tests and evaluations may be needed as compared to deaths as a result of musculoskeletal injuries or known illness. This could mean the complete findings could take as long as two or three months.

The LA Times also noted interest in the case by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who called for a “thorough and transparent examination” into the horse's death. Feinstein was one of the elected officials who put pressure on the racetrack during the 2019 spike in equine fatalities at Santa Anita.

Op/Ed: ‘Even More Transparency’ Needed At California Tracks

The Los Angeles Times Editorial Board acknowledged improved equine safety measures at Santa Anita Park over the past two years, reducing equine fatalities from 37 over the 2019 season to 16 over the same period in 2020. Still, the editorial board insists there are more steps to be taken to prevent further on-track fatalities across the entire state of California.

First, there should be public postings of all necropsy and fatality reviews on horses that die on California tracks.

“The horse racing board already posts annual overall reports on fatalities and types of injuries, but even more transparency is called for,” wrote the editorial board.

Another suggestion was a centralized pharmacy at the racetrack, which is the only source for medications.

Finally, while Santa Anita's PET scan has been a good investment, the editorial board believes the machine should be used on asymptomatic horses prior to a race. Additionally, a 3D walk-in CAT scanner could be added to track veterinarians' tool kit.