2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic Features Death and Injuries of Favored Horses

The hasty excitement surrounding the world’s most prestigious horse racing event, Breeders’ Cup, has been silenced and turned into sadness as one of the favorite horses died just ahead of the race, with another major winning horse being pulled out of the Breeders’ Cup Classic worth $6 million to be held on November 3 & 4, 2023 at Santa Anita.

Practical Move Dies:

As reported, Practical Move, one of the leading horses, died of an apparent cardiac event after a morning gallop at Santa Anita on November 1, 2023. The horse was immediately attended by veterinarians but, according to the source, they could not save him as the use of defibrillators on horses would severely jeopardize the person administering it due to the high voltage required for an around 1,000-pound animal.

The source reports that the Practical Move’s rider was not hurt in the accident. The horse was the winner of the Santa Anita Derby and was seen as a favorite for the Kentucky Derby before getting a fever that is the most likely cause of Practical Move’s sudden death.

But the series of unfortunate events related to the 2023 Classic continued with Arcangelo, the Belmont Stakes winner, who pulled out of the Classic to retire. FanDuel TV reportedly brought the news about the Arcangelo’s retirement caused by a hind hoof issue a few days before the Classic. This horse, who reportedly crowned Jena Antonucci as the first woman trainer winning a Triple Crown race after the Belmont Stakes win, will be kept at Lane’s End Farm. As reported, Antonucci said: “From day one, we will always be horse first, no matter what.”

Mage Develops Fever:

Arcangelo was supposed to run in the classic as the only Triple Crown winner. It seems that he could have been a serious favorite, especially because Mage got out of the race after developing a fever. The race schedules National Treasure, winner of the Preakness Stakes, to run in the Dirt Mile, which is the same race that was supposed to include Practical Move. With the current schedule, the role of the favorite is given to Cody’s Wish.

But, that streak didn’t stop with Arcangelo and Mage as Geaux Rocket Ridesustained a serious injury on October 28, 2023. As reported, the nature of the injury is such that his racing career is undoubtedly ended. Geaux Rocket Ride was reportedly subjected to surgery a day after but his owners said that the recovery will be long and difficult if the horse wins his current fight for life. Another horse having suffered an injury before the Breeders’ Cup Classic is Echo Zulu, the 2021 Eclipse winner, whose recovery is under way as planned. The horse may be ready for the forthcoming prestigious event.