Del Mar suspends turf racing after another horse injury

Del Mar track officials announced Thursday turf racing has been suspended for this weekend after another horse was injured while racing on the new turf course. It is the second time in the 11-day meeting the track has suspended turf racing.

The track canceled turf racing for July 27 after three horses were euthanized in a 48-hour period while racing on the turf course. Track officials watered the turf, aerated it and opened the rails to 18 feet in an attempt to make it softer for the horses. There had been no incidents in four turf races this week until Serious, a filly, was pulled up in the seventh race Thursday.

There were five turf races scheduled for on cards for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. They will be moved to the Polytrack.

The track’s public relations department released a statement: “We continue to be of the belief that Del Mar’s turf course is safe for our horses and riders. Our crews have performed extensive maintenance measures to enhance that safety and those measures – and the course itself – met with the approval of safety officials from the California Horse Racing Board this past Tuesday.

“Nonetheless, given this additional injury on our turf course, we now will discontinue racing on it for the remainder of this week. We will continue efforts to improve the course during this down time and hope to resume racing on it in the near future.”

Rick Arthur, equine medical director for the CHRB, said, “Frankly, everybody is trying to figure out what’s going on.”

Follow Eric Sondheimer on Twitter @LATSondheimer