Breeders' Cup Week Marred by Two Horse Fatalities

The horse racing World Championships are this weekend as Santa Anita Park hosts the Breeders’ Cup. As has been the case for seemingly every major horse racing weekend this year, horse fatalities paint a bleak picture leading into the event.

Practical Move was on pace to be the top challenger to Cody’s Wish in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. On Tuesday he died of an apparent cardiac event after galloping at Santa Anita.

“It was a sudden death, cardiac event,” said trainer Tim Yakteen. “… We are all crushed.”

Practical Move was a star on the west coast in the lead up to the Kentucky Derby after the three-year-old won the San Felipe Stakes and the Santa Anita Derby. He was scratched two days before the Derby with a high fever. He returned to the track in October with a convincing win in a one-mile race and was projected to go off at a short price Saturday afternoon.

Sudden deaths due to cardiac events are rare. The most recent high-profile incident happened in 2021 when Medina Spirit collapsed following a gallop at Santa Anita. A familiar tragedy followed just a day later.

Geaux Rocket Ride, the winner of the Haskell Invitational, was preparing to ride in the biggest race on the slate, the Breeders’ Cup Classic. The horse was severely injured during a seven-furlong breeze. Instead of being euthanized, Geaux Rocket Ride underwent surgery. The horse’s connections were optimistic, but post-surgical complications did not allow the horse to recover. The colt was euthanized on Wednesday.

“It is with very heavy hearts that we report that, at the recommendation of the medical team, Geaux Rocket Ride has finally reached peace,” Pin Oak Stud said in a statement. “His mind and his spirit never quit, but his body never recovered from surgery. He had a very rare response post-op and he wasn’t able to stand up again. He fought hard and our team of vets tried everything they could.”

Geaux Rocket Ride defeated Kentucky Derby winner Mage and Breeders’ Cup Classic favorite Arabian Knight in the Haskell. After losing a rematch to the latter in the Pacific Classic, the grudge match was expected to be one of the most discussed storylines ahead of the Classic.

Instead of breaking down an exciting race between formidable foes, NBC will be discussing another fatal break down in the lead up to one of the biggest racing weekend’s of the year. Whatever can go wrong is seemingly going wrong for this sport.