After increased scrutiny and safety measures put in place following the deaths of 30 horses over Santa Anita's winter/spring meet and no racing fatalities during Del Mar's summer meet, 3-year-old Emtech (Concord Point) was euthanized on the second day racing returned to Santa Anita for the fall. Emtech broke down during the eighth race Saturday and was humanely destroyed after immediate evaluation by a team of on-track veterinarians led by Dr. Dana Stead.
“As is protocol at Santa Anita, we will open an immediate review into what factors could have contributed to Emtech's injury,” said The Stronach Group's chief veterniarian Dr. Dionne Benson. “Santa Anita will work closely with the California Horse Racing Board and will continue to brief our stakeholders and all of our constituents, including the public, as more facts come in. Emtech will undergo a necropsy at the University of California–Davis' School of Veterinary Medicine, as is mandatory for all on-track accidents. The accident and the necropsy report will be reviewed by a team to learn what, if anything, could have been done to have prevented the accident.”
According to Dr. Stead, Emtech had broken both front forelimbs. He was claimed by these connections for $25,000 at Del Mar Aug. 8 and a previous claim on him in his debut was voided. Emtech's last race was a win at Los Alamitos Sept. 14. Rider Mario Gutierrez was uninjured in the fall.
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