Filly euthanized after morning workout at Del Mar

DEL MAR (CNS) - A 3-year-old filly suffered a fatal injury during a morning workout today at the Del Mar.

Lovely Lilia pulled up after the workout at about 5 a.m. and veterinarians said the horse could not be saved and was euthanized, according to Mac McBride, Del Mar's director of media.

Lovely Lilia was eased in her final race, a mile turf race at Santa Anita Park June 12, which she led at the halfway point.

Lovely Lilia made seven starts, winning twice and finishing second once, earning $37,551.

Del Mar made the safety of people and horses the leading theme of its 81st summer meet which began Friday with no fans in the stands for the first time because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The meet's horse and rider safety initiatives amplified measures Del Mar introduced over the last several seasons of racing that led it to being recognized as one the nation's safest racetracks for 2018 and 2019, according to figures from The Jockey Club's Equine Injury Database provided by the track.

Del Mar had a rate of 0.79 fatal injuries per 1,000 starts in 2018 and 0.62 in 2019. The national average for track's reporting was 1.68.

While there were no racing deaths, there were four training deaths during last year's summer meet and three racing deaths and two in training during the fall meet.