Santa Anita reopens training track as horse death investigation continues

The Associated Press

7 years ago

A tractor grooms the dirt track at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., Thursday, March 7, 2019. Extensive testing of the dirt track is under way at eerily quiet Santa Anita, where the deaths of 2 ... — A tractor grooms the dirt track at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., Thursday, March 7, 2019. Extensive testing of the dirt track is under way at eerily quiet Santa Anita, where the deaths of 21 thoroughbreds in two months has forced the indefinite cancellation of horse racing and thrown the workaday world of trainers, jockeys and horses into disarray. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

ARCADIA, Calif. — Santa Anita has reopened its inner training track while testing continues on its main dirt track to try to find out why 21 horses have died in the last two months.

Horses were restricted to jogging or galloping on the training track Friday. No timed workouts were allowed.

Some trainers are sending their horses to Los Alamitos in Orange County for workouts on the one-mile track there.

Since Dec. 26, 21 horses have been euthanized after suffering catastrophic injuries on Santa Anita’s dirt track while either training or racing.

Santa Anita closed its main track and training track Tuesday and suspended racing indefinitely while the dirt track is inspected.

An initial inspection last week found no irregularities. Racing then resumed on Feb. 28 and two more horses suffered fatal injuries.