It’s hard to comment without knowing what is the average rate of “death” during a season.
I put “death” in quotes because I’m assuming they mean put down.
Ten last year, eight the year before, and 14 the year before that , all in the first 2 months of the season.
Yes, the horses are put down, but they are just as dead.
In 2017, 20 deaths occurred among a total of 8,463 starts over a span of 122 racing days at Santa Anita, according to the most recent figures compiled by the Jockey Club.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/santa-anita-suspends-racing-indefinitely-after-21st-horse-dies.amp