20th horse dies at Santa Anita while racing on sloppy track

Another horse has died at Santa Anita, making it 20 fatalities at the racetrack since its winter meet began on Dec. 26.

Animal rights activists gathered near the track in Arcadia yesterday. At least a dozen protesters held signs that read "Your bets cause horses' deaths," ''How many have to die!" and "It's not sport, it's violence."

Santa Anita officials announced that because of heavy rain forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday, racing won't resume until Friday. Normally, racing would be held on Thursday. The track will remain open for training each day this week.

The latest horse death occurred Saturday during the third race when 4-year-old filly Eskenforadrink was in the lead of a $16,000 claiming race. Jockey Geovanni Franco pulled her up with an injury to her front leg. The filly was vanned off the track and later euthanized.

The dirt surface on Saturday was rated sloppy from rain, but it's unknown whether the track condition played any role in the horse's injury.

Santa Anita had 11 1/2 inches of rain and unusually cold temperatures in February.

Horses resumed training and racing on Thursday and Friday without incident. Training was canceled on Saturday because of rain.

Earlier last week, Santa Anita closed for two days for extensive testing of its surface. Soil and safety expert from the University of Kentucky Mick Peterson had proclaimed the track "100 percent ready" to resume racing.