Earlier today, Breeders' Cup contender, a 3-year-old colt named Practical Move, died following a suspected cardiac event at Santa Anita Park. The incident occurred days before the Breeders' Cup taking place at the same venue on November 3-4, according to Fox LA news report.

The rider survived unscathed and vets from the California Horse Racing Board, 1/ST Racing, and Breeder's Cup instantly attended to Practical Move. During its lifetime, the colt had won multiple races along with claiming earnings of $923,000, as reported by ABC News.

Recent times have unfortunately witnessed other incidents with Breeders' Cup contenders. On October 28, Geaux Rocket Ride underwent surgery after a severe leg injury during a workout at Santa Anita, as noted by Fox LA. Recovering is not proceeding as expected, according to a social media statement by the horse's owner, Pin Oak Stud, as mentioned by ABC News.

Arcangelo, Belmont Stakes winner, had to drop out from the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic due to ongoing treatment for an issue with his left hind foot. The training process took longer than expected, constraining the timeline for the race, as mentioned by ABC News. Also, last weekend, Kentucky Derby winner, Mage, failed to arrive at Santa Anita for the Classic due to fever, as noted by Fox LA.

Breeders' Cup officials have stressed their focus on equine safety. They outlined steps taken, such as liaising with veterinary teams and rigorous checking of veterinary records of potential Breeders' Cup runners, to ensure a safe environment for horses, as per Fox LA.

Santa Anita Park's safety record has raised concerns, particularly after the death of 42 horses in the 2019 season. Nevertheless, fatalities have diminished, courtesy of the safety improvements, with only 12 race or training injuries and eight deaths from other causes in 2023, as per Fox LA.

Officials from Breeders' Cup will discuss the equine safety issues at a Santa Anita media briefing on November 1, as per Fox LA. 

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