Trainer Steve Knapp has been fined $1,500 for an overage of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory painkiller phenylbutazone (Bute) administered to Emtech, a 3-year old colt that subsequently suffered a fatal breakdown at Santa Anita last month according to an article from the Los Angeles Times.
Emtech suffered catastrophic injuries on the Arcadia, California track on Sept. 28 and was humanely euthanized on site.
It was a positive test for an above-legal level of the NSAID phenylbutazone obtained from a sample taken following Emtech’s race at Del Mar on Aug. 25 that warranted Knapp’s fine by the California Horse Racing Board.
Emtech raced six times in his career, with five of those races coming from July 6 leading up to the race on Sept. 28, which was the second day of racing at Santa Anita’s current meet.
The racetrack has seen a spate of catastrophic injuries since last year and has implemented various changes meant to stem the fatalities, including the addition of an advisory panel tasked with determining the soundness of horses racing there.
Emtech had previously been on the veterinarian's list of unsound horses, having a claim voided in his debut race last year, but was taken off the list when he passed an examination following a workout on June 20.
He raced on July 6 at Los Alamitos, twice at Del Mar (on Aug. 8 and 25, the race when he tested positive), again at Los Alamitos on Sept. 14 and finally on Sept. 28.
More than 30 horses have died while training or racing at Santa Anita in the past year, precipitating backlash from special interest groups including PETA.
