Kentucky Derby Winner Medina Spirit Dies Of Heart Attack

The Kentucky Derby-winning horse, Medina Spirit died on a track on Monday morning during a workout. The horse was just 3 years old.

The Colt died on the track at Santa Anita from an apparent heart attack. The horse’s owner, Amr Zedan, confirmed the death to Thoroughbred Daily News. The California horse racing board director, Jeff Blea was sent a video of the workout which revealed that he was struggling at the end of the workout.

Previously, Medina spirit has been in news several times since Kentucky Derby, in a controversy over a possible disqualification. After he crossed the finish line first during the May 1, 2021 race, the horse ended up testing positive for a steroid. The colt tested positive for the steroid “Betamethasone”

Trainer Bob Baffert explained that an ointment was used to treat the colt for a skin condition daily up until the Derby included the substance Betamethasone. It is legal but it is not allowed on race day in Kentucky, Maryland, and New York. Follow-up urine testing has also shown that a steroid present in the colt’s system came from a topical ointment and not an injection.

Medina Spirit will now undergo a full necropsy examination. A panel of experts will also conduct a review of the fatality. The medical director, Blea further suspended the possibility of foul play behind the sudden death.

People took to Twitter to grieve Medina Spirit’s death. Watch what people had to say in the tweets below.