Medina Spirit

Medina Spirit, the horse that won the Kentucky Derby in May this year, has died of a heart attack after a training session. According to the California Horse Racing Board, the 3-year-old collapsed and died on Monday at a racetrack in Southern California.

“Following the completion of a routine morning workout, Medina Spirit collapsed on the track at Santa Anita Park and died suddenly of a probable cardiac event, according to the on-site veterinary team who attended to him,” racetrack authorities said.

Medina Spirit’s trainer, Bob Baffert, who was inducted into the US National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame in 2009, confirmed the horse’s death. He said his “entire barn is devastated by this news,” and added: “Medina Spirit was a great champion, a member of our family who was loved by all, and we are deeply mourning his loss. I will always cherish the proud and personal memories of Medina Spirit and his tremendous spirit.”

Both Santa Anita Park and Baffert said that the cause of death appeared to be a heart attack, but the racing board will determine the official cause following an examination of the body and toxicology tests.