Jenna Schoenefeld for The New York Times
At Santa Anita Park in Southern California on Wednesday, a 2-year-old colt named Derby River was injured while galloping during training and had to be euthanized, making him the 27th fatality at the racetrack since the start of its current meet on Dec. 26.
The deaths have commanded the public’s attention during a contentious Triple Crown season and have threatened to close down the sport in California.
The turn of events has put pressure on the Stronach Group — which owns the track and several others, including Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore — and the sport at large to put meaningful reforms in place to ensure safety of its equine athletes and the jockeys who ride them.