(CNN)Kentucky Derby-a hit horse Medina Spirit died Monday at Santa Anita racetrack in Southern California, based totally mostly on the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB).
Medina Spirit collapsed advance the place line lawful as he used to be winding up a workout and died straight away, the CHRB suggested CNN.
“Following the completion of a routine morning workout, Medina Spirit collapsed on the observe at Santa Anita Park and died of a doable cardiac event based totally mostly on the on build veterinary team who attended to him,” Santa Anita Park acknowledged in an announcement.
The records used to be also confirmed by its Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who acknowledged the 3-yr-aged champion colt died from a “coronary heart attack” following a workout, however the racing board is no longer going to settle cause for demise except a necropsy and toxicology exams are full. The examination and exams shall be performed on the College of California, Davis.
“My complete barn is devastated by this recordsdata,” Baffert’s snarl read.
“Medina Spirit used to be a big champion, a member of our family who used to be cherished by all, and we are deeply mourning his loss. I will repeatedly admire the proud and personal recollections of Medina Spirit and his gigantic spirit.”
To boot to being an intelligent racehorse, Medina Spirit used to be the discipline of 1 in all the game’s best controversies in america earlier this yr.
After crossing the motorway first in this yr’s Kentucky Derby, the horse failed a post-bustle drug check.
Trainer Baffert used to be subsequently banned from fielding any horses on the Churchill Downs racetrack for two years following the affirmation of the check for a precise drug whose presence is banned on bustle day.
Baffert later offered a prolonged snarl claiming an ointment faded to handle dermatitis would possibly perhaps absorb triggered the sure check.
The Kentucky Horse Racing Price acknowledged the investigation into the check is ongoing and paid tribute to the thoroughbred.
“The Kentucky Horse Racing Price (KHRC) is saddened to listen to of the demise of Medina Spirit. He used to be a valued member of the thoroughbred industry’s horse racing family.”
Medina Spirit raced four extra instances after the Derby, ending third on the Preakness Stakes and a hit two races in California. And he used to be second within the popular Breeders’ Cup Fundamental in early November.
He received half of his occupation 10 starts.
An announcement from the Santa Anita racetrack confirmed a elephantine necropsy will protect terminate residing to discover the accurate cause for the unexpected demise.
The racetrack has an undesirable file of equine fatalities, which triggered an investigation in 2019.
CNN’s Slit Watt contributed to this file.
