The mystery surrounding the 21 horse deaths since Dec. 26 at Santa Anita came no closer to being solved Wednesday as rain moved into the area, hampering the testing of the track's surface.
Arthur has been studying the breakdowns since it first became apparent at the beginning of the year that numbers were up at Santa Anita. So far, he has found nothing that points to a particular type of horse or race or condition that seems to pose more risk than others.
The track is still where everyone is looking first. Mick Peterson, a safety and soil expert from the University of Kentucky, was brought in last week to extensively test the surface. He found nothing unusual compared to tests that have been done the past two years. Arthur has also been searching for something in the physiology of the horses, through necropsies — the equine version of an autopsy — that might point to some answers. He’s found no trend so far.
“The safety, health and welfare of the horses and jockeys is our top priority,” said Tim Ritvo, the chief operating officer of the the Stronach Group, which owns and operates Santa Anita, among other tracks. “While we are confident further testing will confirm the soundness of the track, the decision to close is the right thing to do at this time.”The cancellation of races this weekend, for some 3-year-old horses, threw the road to the Kentucky Derby into disarray.
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