A horse died of a “presumed cardiac event” while light jogging during training hours at Santa Anita, a state racing board spokesman said Sunday.
Cali Caliente, a 5-year-old gelding, collapsed Saturday morning during the workout, according to Mike Marten of the California Horse Racing Board.
The winner of three of seven races, Cali Caliente was in a light jog on the outside rail when he collapsed and died, the Los Angeles Times reported. The death “did not appear to be the result of exertion, but since it happened on the racing surface, it will be counted as a racing or training death by the CHRB. A necropsy will be performed.
It is the second death at Santa Anita since the season started on Dec. 26.
Cali Caliente’s last race was a second-place finish in an allowance at Del Mar on Nov. 13. He was trained by Eric Kruljac and owned by Dennis and Norine Grenier, who also bred the horse. The California-bred thoroughbred had earned $142,420.