Derby winner Medina Spirit collapses, dies in California

[George II]

Source: Associated Press

Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit collapsed and died after a workout Monday at Santa Anita.

The 3-year-old colt trained by Bob Baffert had just completed five furlongs in his second workout since finishing second in the Breeders' Cup Classic a month ago at Del Mar, according to Craig Robertson, Baffert's attorney. Baffert said in a statment that the horse suffered a heart attack.

"My entire barn is devastated by this news," Baffert said. "Medina Spirit was a great champion, a member of our family who was loved by all, and we are deeply mourning his loss. I will always cherish the proud and personal memories of Medina Spirit and his tremendous spirit."

Santa Anita released a statment saying the track veterinary team took blood, hair and urine samples from Medina Spirit and sent them to the California Horse Racing Board. The colt will undergo a full necropsy, as required by the racing board, to try to determine the exact cause of death.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/sports-business-horse-racing-bob-baffert-43d700743c1a9cfa91d9adb60af46e90

---

More equine blood on the hands of Bob Baffert.

"My entire barn is devastated by this news," Baffert said. "Now pass me that syringe."

Here's an article about Baffert's past:

Report: 74 Equine Deaths for Baffert Since 2000

Citing California Horse Racing Board and Daily Racing Form data, The Washington Post reported June 18 that at least 74 horses have died in trainer Bob Baffert's care in California since 2000, trailing only two other trainers in the state.

The Post's analysis concluded that Baffert trainees have died at the highest rate per starts of the 10 trainers with the most horse deaths there, an occurrence rate of 8.3 deaths per 1,000 starts. The figures include deaths from illnesses in addition to breakdowns.

The mortality disclosure by the Post comes at a time when Baffert is facing scrutiny after his trainee, Zedan Racing Stables' Medina Spirit , tested positive for betamethasone after winning the May 1 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs. That infraction, which could lead to the colt's disqualification and a fine and suspension for Baffert from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, marked the fifth time a Baffert-trained horse tested positive for prohibited medications since May 2, 2020.

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/250960/report-74-equine-deaths-for-baffert-since-2000

[Coventina]

1. Horse racing is cruel and barbaric. n/t

[cstanleytech]

13. Racing itself isn't the problem though its the mistreatment of the horses by many that is.

If we could curb that though it would be perfectly fine to have horse races.

[Coventina]

14. Racing itself is the problem! Horses have been dangerously bred to have

locomotive lungs on champagne-flute legs.

On average, 2 horses die every day in races in the US.
Can you imagine a sport when two athletes died every day in professional matches?

Horses can not give their informed consent to the risks they face.

It is cruel, barbaric, and selfish.

Typical human behavior, unfortunately.

[cstanleytech]

15. No, racing isnt the problem the problem is the mistreatment and the way the breeding is done

falls under the category of mistreatment.
If that is fixed and if the long term health of the animal was taken into consideration as part of the selection of breeding then it would go a long way towards resolving the issue.

[Coventina]

17. Yes, racing is the problem! Money, greed, and selfishness are at its heart.

The horses do not understand the risks they are being forced to take.

Using animals as entertainment is a selfish human desire.

[Mosby]

48. Horse racing in Europe is done differently

And is apparently much safer for the animals.

I read a great piece about it but can't find it. There are a number of factors that make a big difference. One is that the races are much longer, which changes a race from a sprint to more like a distance run. Because of that the horses aren't bred with tiny lower legs and hooves. Second almost all the races are run on grass, which provides more protection. I think there are more restrictions on meds like Lasix.

[TxGuitar]

23. Like this would ever happen.

They don't care about the horses. They care about the money.
Horse racing along with dog racing has no place in a civilized society.

[cstanleytech]

29. Oh, I know its unlikely to happen because as you said there is money involved and to many

that is all they really care about.

[burrowowl]

34. Yes it would!

New breeding has really been to the detriment of the thoroughbreds.

[StarryNite]

45. I agree. I wish they would outlaw it.

The exploitation of animals needs to stop. In forty-one U.S. states, commercial dog racing is illegal.

[redstatebluegirl]

2. Nasty blood sport!

[bullwinkle428]

3. I really hope I don't hear "natural causes" as the result of the necropsy.

[Green Line]

4. Heartbreaking

He was such a game horse, one of my favorites. RIP baby boy.

[CTyankee]

9. I read somewhere that thoroughbreds often die early due to being bred with such tender legs.

I find that incredibly sad. Bred to die after working their hearts out on the track.

[AngryOldDem]

5. It's animal abuse.

And I have no use for Bob Baffert.

[Enoki33]

6. Sad news. Bound to be drug use speculation

by concerned fans. The Baffert stable, while having an enviable record, does not preclude increasingly difficult to detect performance enhancement drugs.

[secondwind]

7. Animal cruelty and abuse!!! And all for the Benjamins......... ugh

[Comfortably_Numb]

22. This & In my opinion Horse racing shares with bull and dog fighting as barbaric, abusive "sports"

[AngryOldDem]

8. Isn't Santa Anita the track that's had all those deaths?

Wasn’t it shut down for awhile?

[TexasBushwhacker]

30. Yes. It had a string of 37 deaths before it was shut down

Just horrifying

[BamaRefugee]

10. I live a mile away from Santa Anita, I cannot believe how many horses have died there in the last

few years, unbelievable.

[George II]

11. At the beginning of last year, over the course of maybe 2 months, Baffert had six.

[BamaRefugee]

12. You have to wonder what the insurance payout is on thoroughbreds.....

[CountAllVotes]

40. Baffert is evil

Anything horse seems to end up dead when he is around.

They KNOW he has drugged horses.

WHY do THEY allow Baffert to go near a horse? I thought he had been banned from Santa Anita!

[Fla Dem]

16. Glad there'll be a full inquiry into the colt's death. Very sad.

If I was a horse owner I wouldn't let Bob Baffert any where near the horse. On average 3 horses a year in a 20 year span have died under his care. He needs to be investigated.

[LittleGirl]

18. Is it normal for a horse

To exercise and drop dead? Especially a 3 year old horse.
I hope they find out what drugs were in its blood. Wow. Sad.

[Green Line]

26. It's not routine but does happen

They’ve taken blood and hair samples already. His body will go to UC Davis for a full necropsy.

[Initech]

19. How is Santa Anita still allowed to operate?

This is a travesty, as is all the other horses that have died on those tracks. Simply barbaric.

[viva la]

20. Anyone else read the Dick Francis novels?

Racing murder mysteries. This sounds like one of them.

[George II]

21. I read a couple of dozen of them years ago. Very well written, but Francis was a jockey....

....so know the industry.

[Bayard]

24. I'm a Kentucky kid

So, its genetic to love the Derby.

But the main problem I have is the horse's age. TB's start training when they are a year and a half/2 years old. They can start racing after they turn two. That means--they're still babies, basically. The thing is, they don't reach their racing peak till they're nearly 5 years. So why not wait until their bones are fully formed and their joints closed? That's where most of the leg problems come from.

Heart problems, lung problems, who knows? Yes, it can have to do with drugs. But I'd have to lay a lot of it again on racing under-developed horses.

With regular horses, you don't, "back" them, or teach them the basics, till they're at least 3 years old. Then, a lot of people do nothing with them for a year to let them finish growing, which is usually around 5, then start more serious training.

[TexasBushwhacker]

31. It's all about the $$$

They want to start racing them as soon as possible so they can start getting a return 9n their investment, even if it's bad for the horse.

[electric_blue68]

36. That's interesting. I have no big opinion other than the horses...

should be treated right. No enhancement drugs.

If they're going be raced younger could they be bred for sturdier legs again?
Occasionally I've thought (bc I love looking at horses) their legs looked awful thin for additional weight of a human.

Would they be race able St 5 yrs once their legs have reached maximum development?

[jeffreyi]

41. Was going to say the same thing except you said it better

Horse owner here. Racing horses when they are two and three years old is ridiculous and cruel, and unneccessary. I'm not sure about the age requirement for endurance/distance rides, but I think it's at least 5 years old. The responsible riders I know wait even longer, until the horse is seven or eight.

[Mr.Bill]

25. I had an uncle who owned a few race horses in the 70s.

His trainer, who was his son-in-law, was also a pharmacist. Draw your own conclusions.

[hamsterjill]

27. Old Friends in Kentucky

Just in case anyone here isn't familiar with this organization, or in case anyone wants to support a great cause around the holidays, Old Friends is a retirement farm for former racing champions, run by a gentleman named "Michael Blowen".

https://www.oldfriendsequine.org/

There are oodles of media stories about this place if you google it.

Silver Charm is there. War Emblem and Charismatic were there until their deaths.

There are many other former racing champions housed there and they have deserved, comfortable retirements.

And without comment about the man, Baffert is a regular and generous contributor.

[George II]

28. It's a great organization, and there are many champion horses stabled there. As for Baffert...

....I suspect he does it out of guilt or for a smokescreen.

[hamsterjill]

32. Don't care why he does it.

Just that he does it.

As I said in my post, I made no comment on the man. I get that you don’t like him.

Horse racing is NOT EVER going to go away. Period. Full stop. As much as I might like to see the horses all safe and happy, there is way too much money and following in the sport. Plus, without racing, even more would wind up at the slaughter houses. The best we can hope for is for a little good to come out of it all once in a while. For me, that’s Michael Blowen.

[George II]

35. It's not that I don't like him, I don't like cheats, and he does it more than any other trainer.

The fact that he makes contributions to Old Friends doesn't absolve him of his cheating or bring back the lives of the 70 race horses of his who have died in California in the last 20 years. He gives racing a bad name.

I certainly hope racing doesn't go away, I've enjoyed it for more than 50 years. But if it did thoroughbred horses wouldn't wind up at slaughter houses, they just wouldn't be bred. Without racing there would be no reason to breed twenty to thirty thousand thoroughbreds each year.

As it is, breeding and racing are way down over the past few decades.

In 1990 (30 years ago) there were 44,000 foals in North America, in 2020 there were only 20,500 - less than half that of 1990.
In 1990 there were 81,000 races in North America, in 2020 only 31,000.

A big factor has been the increase in casinos around the country, but racing had developed about the worst reputation it's had in my lifetime. It used to be bashed because of a few "betting coups" here and there, but now it's because of drugs and injuries due to drugs. So I have zero tolerance for trainers who cheat.

An interesting site and statistics:

https://www.jockeyclub.com/Default.asp?section=Resources&area=11

[hamsterjill]

37. Why do you feel the need to justify your opinion to me?

I never commented about any “absolution” for Baffert.

As to the slaughter issue, we will agree to disagree.

Have a great evening.

[Green Line]

33. It's a great organization

Don’t forget Little Silver Charm

[hamsterjill]

38. I know!!

Isn’t he adorable!!!!!

[ShazzieB]

39. He is!

I especially love his mane. Just gorgeous.

[hamsterjill]

42. He's very old himself.

But he seems to be doing well.

They have feral and tame cats that live on the farm, too. All spayed or neutered. I think this place is one of the few that is genuine.

[oioioi]

43. The Final Race

[SunSeeker]

46. And what resulted from the exposure of this barbarism?

Last edited Tue Dec 7, 2021, 06:36 AM - Edit history (1)

Are Australian horses no longer brutally slaughtered for dog food?

[oioioi]

47. Action on Horse Racing

There are quite a few protests / campaigns. Horse racing and gambling on it in Australia is VERY big business. Much bigger than in the US - there are about 10 major horse race meetings every day around the Country.

Cops foil plot by animal rights protesters to disrupt Melbourne Cup by dumping a truck full of horse manure at the entrance to Flemington
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10155063/Police-swoop-Melbourne-Cup-protesters-storm-gates-screaming-nup-Cup.html

Organization that made The Final Race and promoted it to national attention (donations welcome)
https://horseracingkills.com/

Australian Animal Justice Party:
https://animaljusticeparty.org/policies/

South Australia stops hurdle racing:
Racing South Australia has announced that jumps racing will be abandoned in the state from 2022, as the “sport” has become “unsustainable” amid declining participation levels. While it may not be the outright ban PETA and the many activists who wrote to the South Australian government over the years asked for, the announcement shows an important shift: jumps racing has lost its social licence and the industry knows it.

https://www.peta.org.au/news/jumps-racing-ends-south-australia/

[SunSeeker]

49. That's what I feared.

All that happened was animal rights protesters were arrested.

Reminds me of a police shooting of an unarmed man where the only one arrested was the person who took the video.

[oasis]

44. Something is definitely fishy here.