California considers the unthinkable: Canceling horse racing at Santa Anita Park
Source: Washington Post
California considers the unthinkable: Canceling horse racing at Santa Anita Park
By Scott Wilson April 12 at 7:00 AM
ARCADIA, Calif. — There is a mystery unfolding along the rail here at one of the nation’s most storied horse tracks, where since Christmas nearly two dozen peak-of-form thoroughbreds have died during races or training at Santa Anita Park.
No one knows why.
The unusual spate of “breakdowns,” as broken legs are known in horse racing, has focused harsh attention on the sport, particularly the way it treats its prize equine athletes, just before the Triple Crown season begins next month at the Kentucky Derby.
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The deaths, now the subject of postmortem exams, have amplified calls from animal rights advocates to shut down California’s more than $3 billion annual horse racing industry until the mystery of Santa Anita is solved and new rules are in place to reduce fatalities.
The track halted racing for nearly all of March to look into the deaths before reopening March 29. Next week, the California Horse Racing Board, which oversees the industry, is scheduled to meet here to discuss whether the remainder of the track’s season should be transferred to another venue. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) wrote the board April 2 calling for racing at Santa Anita to be suspended immediately.
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Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/california-considers-the-unthinkable-canceling-horse-racing-at-santa-anita-park/2019/04/11/28608498-5af1-11e9-a00e-050dc7b82693_story.html