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SPORTS

32nd horse dies at Southern California racetrack in less than a year

By Brie Stimson Fox News
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A horse was euthanized Saturday after breaking both front legs during a race at Southern California’s Santa Anita racetrack, becoming the 32nd to die at the track since December.

Emtech, a 3-year-old colt, fell to the ground during the 8th race on the second day of Santa Anita’s fall meet.

“As is protocol at Santa Anita, we will open an immediate review into what factors could have contributed to Emtech’s injury,” said Dr. Dionne Benson, chief veterinarian for the Stronach Group. “Santa Anita will work closely with the California Horse Racing Board and will continue to brief our stakeholders and all of our constituents."

Track personnel attend Emtech, a 3-year-old colt, after he went down in the stretch at Santa Anita Race rack in the eighth race in Arcadia, Calif. on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019 and tossed two-time Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Mario Gutierrez. Gutierrez, the 32-year-old rider who won the Kentucky Derby in 2012 and 2016, was taken away by ambulance. (AP Photo/Beth Harris)

Track personnel attend Emtech, a 3-year-old colt, after he went down in the stretch at Santa Anita Race rack in the eighth race in Arcadia, Calif. on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019 and tossed two-time Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Mario Gutierrez. Gutierrez, the 32-year-old rider who won the Kentucky Derby in 2012 and 2016, was taken away by ambulance. (AP Photo/Beth Harris)

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Benson said the horse will undergo a necropsy, mandatory for on-track deaths.

Emtech was euthanized on the track behind a green screen.

The racing death was the first in Southern California since Truffalino died on June 9 at Santa Anita. There were also six training deaths over the summer, four at Del Mar and two at Santa Anita.

The latest Santa Anita training death was on Sept. 16.

The unusually high number of deaths has put the racetrack (and horse racing in general) under scrutiny and has prompted some to call for the track’s closure.

Emtech's jockey, two-time Kentucky Derby winner Mario Gutierrez, was thrown in the incident but uninjured.

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The track will host the Breeder's Cup the first weekend of November.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.