Award of $150,000 Is Ordered in Death of Horse After Race

The owner of a horse that died on the track at Santa Anita in 1988 has won a $150,000 judgment from a jury trial in Los Angeles Superior Court.

Ron Warranch, owner of Secuencia, sued Santa Anita after the 6-year-old mare, died while being unsaddled after a $100,000 claiming race. Warranch contended that the death of the overheated horse was caused by a security guard who, on the advice of a track veterinarian, splashed Secuencia in the face with a bucket of water. Warranch said that after the mare was doused with the water, she reared up, collapsed and died.

Warranch said he had tried to settle privately with Santa Anita before going to court.

“Going to court was going to cost both of us a lot of money,” Warranch said. “But Santa Anita’s attitude was terrible. The track has gotten to the point where there’s only one way to do things, and if you don’t do it Santa Anita’s way, there’s no way, in their opinion.

“More than the money, I went ahead with this suit to show Santa Anita that they can’t keep burying the people who support their races.”

Thomas Wong, an attorney representing Santa Anita, said that a decision hasn’t been made whether the track will appeal the 12-0 verdict.

“We are keeping our options open,” Wong said. “We were disappointed by the verdict. There was a conflict in the testimony that was given.”