3rd Horse in 9 Days Dies at California Race Track, Marking the 26th Fatality Since December

Photo: Keith Birmingham/Digital First Media/Pasadena Star-News via Getty

A 9-year-old horse named Kochees was the third horse in nine days to die at Santa Anita Park, a thoroughbred race track in Arcadia, California, and the 26th horse to die at the race track since the end of December.

Mike Willman, Santa Anita’s director of publicity, confirmed to PEOPLE that Kochees was injured in a race on Saturday and was euthanized one day later.

Willman explained that Kochees had suffered an ankle fracture during the race, adding that “an exhaustive effort” was made to remedy the injury.

“Nothing short of a zero-fatality rate is acceptable,” the statement read.

In early March, Santa Anita Parksuspended all live racing and training at the facility, but racing resumed later that month, according toCNN.

The suspension was announced after 21 horses died at the facility in 10 weeks.

It is unclear if the track conditions have had a role in any of the fatalities, but the Arcadia area had recently experienced a bout of bizarre weather, including 11.5 inches of rain, that could’ve affected the track’s conditions.

During the suspension, experts evaluated the dirt surface of the track, but no problems were found,CBSreports.

According to CBS, the Los Angeles County District Attorney has announced the creation of a task force to investigate the string of deaths.

source: people.com