Santa Anita

California Senator Dianne Feinstein called on the California Horse Racing Board to conduct a "thorough, transparent and independent investigation" into the death of GI Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit (Protonico) in a letter to CHRB Executive Director Scott Chaney sent from her office Monday. The letter reads: "As the California Horse Racing Board proceeds with the investigation into the jarring death of Medina Spirit, I urge you to ensure such efforts are thorough, transparent, and independent of any outside influence. Further, I ask that you provide my staff with regular...

Now entering its second year, Santa Anita-based Free Animal Doctor, a non-profit that provides free veterinary services to dogs and cats, has paid out more than $300,000 in veterinary care on pets based in Southern California and throughout the United States. Additionally, Free Animal Doctor will have spayed or neutered approximately 825 dogs or cats by year's end and will have vaccinated and/or micro-chipped more than half of them. Free Animal Doctor (FAD), conveniently located in Santa Anita's parking lot 7, opened its doors to the public Sept. 15, 2020....

by Bill Finley & Dan Ross Medina Spirit (Protonico), the winner of this year's GI Kentucky Derby,  died of an apparent heart attack following a five-furlong workout Monday morning at Santa Anita. The incident happened after Medina Spirit completed a five-furlong workout in 1:01.40. The breeze took place at about 7:45 Pacific Time. "I just heard. He had a heart attack," owner Amr Zedan said. "It was quick and he didn't suffer. It's unfortunate. In a moment like this there is not much that we can do. All I can...

Unbeaten and untested in a pair of blowout victories, 'TDN Rising Star' Flightline (Tapit) is gearing up to make his highly anticipated stakes debut in the GI Malibu S. on Santa Anita's traditional opening day program Dec. 26. Campaigned in partnership by the powerhouse lineup of Hronis Racing, Siena Farm, West Point Thoroughbreds, Woodford Racing, and breeder Summer Wind Equine, the $1-million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling made it two-for-two for trainer John Sadler in spectacular fashion, crushing a first-level group of optional claimers by 12 3/4 lengths over Labor Day weekend...

Santa Anita Park will offer the 'Ship & Win' Program in a continuing effort to attract new horses and enhance field sizes for the upcoming winter/spring meet that begins Dec. 26. Horses that are eligible will receive a $5,000 bonus and a 35% premium on purse money for one start. Horses that became eligible at the recently concluded Del Mar fall meet will also be eligible for 'Ship & Win' bonuses for their first start at Santa Anita this winter. The $5,000 bonus will also apply to any horse that...

Jockey John Velazquez will be based primarily at Santa Anita Park for the upcoming meet there that starts Dec. 26, a switch from recent seasons in which the 50-year-old Hall-of-Famer has wintered at Gulfstream Park. Jay Privman of Daily Racing Form first broke the news Monday. TDN left a phone message for Velazquez seeking comment, but it did not yield a return call prior to deadline for this story. The four-time GI Kentucky Derby-winner and co-chairman of the Jockeys' Guild made his decision public Nov. 29 via his agent, Ron...

In a hearing conducted Friday in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer--barred from The Stronach Group (TSG)-owned facilities since June of 2019 due to a number of equine fatalities in his care amid the well-publicized Santa Anita welfare crisis--was not granted a prohibitory injunction to be able to enter and race horses under his name at Santa Anita for the upcoming 2021-2022 winter/spring meet. According to Hollendorfer's attorney, Drew Couto, "the judge declined the motion saying that although it asked for a prohibitory injunction, in the court's...

When Nov. 29 rolls around, trainer Peter Miller, one of the most numerically powerful stables on the Southern California circuit, will embark upon a temporary hiatus from training to spend "more time with his family, focus on overall health and wellness, and pursue other interests," according to press release issued Thursday evening. While Miller's assistant, Ruben Alvarado, is expected to take over the everyday running of the barn, Miller will take on an advisory position and maintain his role as an owner, the release states. "I have been working virtually...

Tickets for the 51st annual Eclipse Awards dinner are on sale now. The Eclipse Awards will be held on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., the first time racing's night of champions will be held on the West Coast since 2012. Eclipse Award tickets are available for $425 each or $4,000 for a table of 10. For additional information, log on to the NTRA website at https://www.ntra.com/eclipse-awards/. The "black-tie optional" Eclipse Awards dinner and awards ceremony will be held in an expansive chalet adjacent to...

Santa Anita's stall applications are available in advance of its traditional Winter/Spring meet, which kicks off Dec. 26. The track's 78-day meet runs through June 19 and its Winter/Spring Condition Book One will be available online Nov. 29. "With a number of out-of-state horses still here in Southern California following last week's Breeders' Cup World Championships, we want to be sure these horsemen know they've got some great options to train and race here at Santa Anita this winter and spring," said Chris Merz, Santa Anita Director of Racing and...

St. George Stable's Letruska (Super Saver), the expected favorite for the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff next week, had a somewhat eventful final breeze at Del Mar Saturday. Scheduled to work a solo five-eighths, the four-time Grade I winner broke off behind 2-year-old filly Brandon'smylawyer (Astern {Aus}), and hooked that runner near the half-mile pole. The other filly continued on with Letruska, and finished her half-mile work several lengths to the good of Letruska, who was credited with five furlongs in 1:01.20 (2/7) (Click for video). Brandon'smylawyer, a $340,000 OBS April...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency RACHEL'S VALENTINA FILLY DEBUTS IN NY 4th-BEL, $90K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, 2:11 p.m. Todd Pletcher unveils the latest foal out of Grade I winner Rachel's Valentina (Bernardini) named AMBASSADOR KELLY (Pioneerof the Nile). The second and final foal out of Hall of Famer Rachel Alexandra, whose accomplishments speak for themselves, Rachel's Valentina followed up a 'TDN Rising Star'-worthy debut with a win in Saratoga's GI Spinaway S. She finished second in both the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and the GI Central Bank Ashland...