A 2 year old, unraced colt, named Derby River, suffered a shoulder fracture during his training early Wednesday morning, making him the 27th track related death. He’s the 4th since May 17th.
He was originally purchased for $50,000 at a sale in Florida, his trainer, Ruben Gomez, informed the press. Upon sustaining the injury, Gomez stated that he sent the colt to a hospital in Chino, “but there was nothing they could do to save him. It can be a common injury on babies. He just came up from Florida.” Gomez went on to say, “I am so sad. I ride my horses every day and I get so attached to them, especially my babies.”
Shoulder and humerus -the bone that connects to the shoulder- are not common. According to date compiled by the CHRB, only four deaths out of 113 in 2017-2018 were in that area. Stranger still is the fact that during a non-strenuous training session on May 17th, Commander Coil, suffered the same type of injury, ending his life.
This latest death may now impact Santa Anita’s hosting of the Breeder’s Cup on November 1-2. The board for the Breeder’s Cup will be meeting in Lexington, KY at the end of this month to decide who the host should be for this year’s event.
Derby River is the second death for Gomez, who lost Derby Treasure on January 11th after the 4 year old filly won a $30,000 maiden claiming race.
