Santa Anita sees fourth equine fatality in as many days

A fourth horse in the past four days perished at Santa Anita on Monday morning just hours before the track was closed for maintenance, an itinerary that was announced on Sunday and will keep the track closed on Tuesday while an examination of the surface is conducted.

The horse, identified by clockers as the 3-year-old gelding Charmer John, suffered a catastrophic injury soon after turning into the stretch during a work not long after the 7:30 renovation break. He was taken from the track in the horse ambulance to the barn of his trainer, Mark Glatt, but a little less than two hours later Dr. Tim Grande, a California Horse Racing Board veterinarian, reported that Charmer John had to be euthanized.

An uptick in equine deaths this meet compared to last year has prompted the examination of the surface. There were three fatalities Friday and Saturday – one on turf – the most notable being 2017 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Battle of Midway, who died after a workout on the main track on Saturday.

Charmer John, a 3-year-old gelding, was sixth of eight in his only lifetime start on Feb. 14 against maidens.