Fourth horse dies from training injury at Santa Anita

A 5-year-old mare with 10 races and four victories in her career has died after suffering an injury while exercising at Santa Anita, state horse racing officials confirmed Monday.

Big Switch suffered “a sesamoid injury” on Sunday and was euthanized, according to the Daily Racing Form, which first reported the news and cited owner and breeder George Krikorian.

Mike Marten, public information officer for the California Horse Racing Board, told City News Service that the injury and the euthanasia both occurred Sunday morning.

Big Switch won two races at Santa Anita and two races at Del Mar in her career, according to the industry website Equibase. Her last race was a fourth-place finish at Santa Anita in May 2023. She was trained by John Sadler and her jockey was Juan Hernandez, according to Equibase.

She is the fourth horse to die from a training injury at the Arcadia track this year. Santa Anita saw 12 racing and training deaths in 2022, but that number rose to 17 in 2023, according to CHRB data.

Track officials announced Saturday that they were canceling Monday’s Presidents Day racing card due to the heavy rain in the forecast, although Santa Anita was open Monday for simulcast wagering in the Grandstand Paddock Room beginning at 10 a.m.  Free parking and admission were being offered.

The races previously scheduled for Monday will be offered as extra races Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 23-25.

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