Sport

Investigation launched as Kentucky-Derby winning horse dies while training

Published

2 years ago

December 7, 2021

Kentucky Derby-winning horse Medina Spirit has died while training in Southern California

Kentucky-Derby winning horse Medina Spirit died of a suspected heart attack while undergoing training at the Santa Anita racetrack in Southern California, according to the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB).

Medina Spirit collapsed near the finish line just as he was completing a workout and died immediately.

“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,”
Santa Anita Park said in a statement.

The news was also confirmed by its Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who said the 3-year-old champion colt died from a “heart attack” following a workout.

Despite comments made by the trainer the racing board will not determine cause of death until a necropsy and toxicology tests are complete.

The examination and tests will be conducted at the University of California, Davis.

Investigation launched as Kentucky-Derby winning horse dies while training / Image: Reuters

“My entire barn is devastated by this news”

Baffert’s statement read that his entire barn was devastated by the death of the Derby-winning horse.

“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.”

Investigation launched as Kentucky-Derby winning horse dies while training / Image: File

Medina Spirit controversy

As well as being an exciting racehorse, Medina Spirit was the subject of one of the sport’s biggest controversies in the United States earlier this year.

Sports Analyst Eric Mitchell told ticker NEWS, after the horse crossed the line, placing first in this year’s Kentucky Derby, it failed a post-race drug test.

The horse’s trainer Bob Baffert was subsequently banned from fielding any horses at the Churchill Downs racetrack for two years after confirmation that the horse returned a positive test for a legal drug whose presence is banned on race day.

Baffert later provided a lengthy statement claiming an ointment used to treat dermatitis may have caused the positive test.

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission said the investigation into the test is ongoing and paid tribute to the thoroughbred.

Sport

Rafa Nadal pulls out of French Open

Published

4 months ago

May 19, 2023

ticker NEWS, Brittany Coles

The Spaniard has failed to regain full fitness from a hip injury sustained earlier this year

Rafa Nadal has delivered news that no tennis fan wanted to hear.

The King of Clay will miss the French Open after failing to regain full fitness from a hip injury suffered at the Australian Open back in January.

The 14-time Roland Garros winner says he expects to retire following the 2024 season.

Nadal has dominated the clay court season for close to two decades.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion fronted a widely anticipated press conference at his tennis academy in Mallorca to drop the bombshell, saying its the right thing to do for his body and personal happiness.

“I’ll look to be 100% ready for next year, which I believe will be the last year of my professional career,” Nadal told a news conference at his tennis academy in Mallorca, Spain.

“The evolution of the injury I sustained in Australia has not gone as I would have liked. I have lost goals along the way, and Roland Garros becomes impossible.”

“I’ll not establish a date for my return. I’ll see how my body responds and take it from there,” said the 36-year-old. “If I keep playing at this moment, I don’t think I can be there next year.

“I don’t know if I’ll be able to come back in the highest level and compete for Grand Slams. What I will try to do is to give myself the opportunity to go back to what could be my final year competing at the highest level.”

Sport

China expresses concerns about ‘politicisation of sports’

Published

5 months ago

May 8, 2023

ticker NEWS

The East Asian nation raised the issue when Premier Li met with the head of the IOC, Thomas Bach

China has expressed concerns to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) about the politicisation of sporting events.

The issue was raised when Chinese Premier Li Qiang met Thomas Bach, the head of the IOC, in Beijing over the weekend.

“China’s efforts to promote the Olympic spirit will never cease, and [China is] ready to work with IOC to oppose the politicisation of sports, and make further contributions to the Olympic movement,” Li said.

It is rare for China to raise such concerns with the IOC in public, and it was the first time it had made such comments since the Winter Olympics in Beijing early last year.

The United States and several of its allies took part in a diplomatic boycott of the Games, citing alleged human rights abuse in China’s far west region of Xinjiang.

Beijing has repeatedly denied the accusation and said it opposes any attempts to politicise sporting events.

Sport

Tasmanian AFL team becomes reality

Published

5 months ago

May 3, 2023

ticker NEWS

Tasmania will have a team in the AFL after all 18 current teams agreed to the motion

An exciting day for residents of the Australian state of Tasmania today.

Outgoing AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan confirming Tasmania has been granted the league’s 19th licence.

It follows the nation’s federal government confirming it will cover the $240 million shortfall to fund a new multi-purpose stadium at Macquarie Point.

This has long been viewed as Tasmania’s most significant hurdle for entry into the league.

All 18 clubs supported the state’s bid, before the AFL Commission agreed to a formal ratification.

McLachlan fronted a press conference at North Hobart Oval, alongside Premier Jeremy Rockliff, Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles and a whole host of players.

The CEO says the decision “will finally make [the] competitions truly national”. #trending #featured