Second Horse Dies at Santa Anita Ahead of Breeders' Cup: Geaux Rocket Ride Euthanized After Injury

Practical Move collapsed due to a cardiac event; Geaux Rocket Ride, once a Breeders' Cup Classic contender, was euthanized after an unsuccessful recovery from surgery following a training injury.

The 3-year-old colt, Geaux Rocket Ride, was euthanized on Wednesday, four days after getting injured during a workout leading up to the Breeders’ Cup, after struggling to recover from surgery.
Geaux Rocket Ride sustained a condylar fracture, a repetitive strain injury that results in a fracture to the cannon bone above the fetlock due to large loads transmitted during high-speed workouts.
This is the second death this week leading up to the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita, following the collapse of Practical Move due to a suspected cardiac event after a workout at Santa Anita.
Geaux Rocket Ride missed the Santa Anita Derby and this year’s Triple Crown races due to a fever and a high white cell count, but his trainer claimed he was recovered and back on track toward the Breeders’ Cup.
Despite his recovery setback, Geaux Rocket Ride had three wins in five career starts and earnings of $980,200, and his death deeply affected his owners at Pin Oak Stud.