Practical Move, the second choice in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, died during training at Santa Anita Park on Tuesday morning. The horse, trained by Tim Yakteen, was returning from a morning gallop when he suffered an “apparent cardiac event,‘’ officials for the race announced. His rider was able to dismount and was uninjured.

Advertisement

Practical Move, the Santa Anita Derby winner, once pointed toward the Kentucky Derby but spiked a fever prior to the race and was scratched. He took six months off and returned in October to win another race. The three-year-old horse was the 3-1 choice behind favorite Cody’s Wish.

While apparently not due to a musculoskeletal injury, Practical Move’s death is another piece of somber news for a sport reeling from a string of horse fatalities surrounding the biggest races. During the run-up to the Kentucky Derby, seven horses died in the span of 10 days, causing a temporary shutdown of racing at Churchill Downs, beginning in June.

The Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) announced in September that a three-month investigation of the Churchill Downs’ track yielded no singular explanation for the deaths at the Kentucky track.

At the Preakness,  Bob Baffert’s Havnameltdown had to be euthanized on the track. Baffert’s National Treasure went on to win the Preakness. At the Belmont, Excursionniste had to be euthanized after a catastrophic injury to its left front leg in the race immediately following Arcangelo’s triumphant Belmont Stakes win.

Santa Anita, where Practical Move died, is no stranger to horse deaths. In 2019, 42 horses died. The track made significant improvements and in 2022, that number plummeted to 12.

“Every year, Breeders’ Cup works closely with its host track, state racing commission and the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Authority in the lead-up to the World Championships to implement stringent safety and integrity protocols,” the Breeders’ Cup statement regarding Practical Move’s death said. “These processes are in place to protect the well-being of our human and equine athletes, and Breeders’ Cup is committed to continuously improving the ecosystem of care surrounding every horse.”

Advertisement

The Breeders’ Cup will be run on Saturday.

(Photo: Harry How / Getty Images)