On March 5, 2019, a four-year-old filly named Let’s Light The Way trained by Ron McAnally, was injured at 7:45 a.m. during a morning training session. After shattering a bone, the horse required euthanasia.
Santa Anita track officials announced hours later they had suspended indefinitely racing at the track. Officials also stated they had hired Dennis Moore, the track’s former superintendent to inspect and evaluate the racing surface.
The Stronach Group who owns the track told Daily Racing Form that Moore, who left Santa Anita in Dec. 2018 and is now working as track superintendent for Los Alamitos, will have ample time to inspect the racing surface while the track is closed.
Jim Cassidy, president of California Thoroughbred Trainers confirmed Santa Anita had suspended racing indefinitely. He noted the horses who did not become injured while training on the track. He hoped racing would resume this weekend.
There have been 21 deaths since Dec. 26 at Santa Anita. Seven horses have died while racing on the main track, five horses died while on the turf, and nine died during their morning workouts.
Animal rights groups including People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have demanded racing be stopped at the racing facility and called for investigations of the veterinary records and trainers of the horses who were injured and died.
Written by Barbara Sobel
Sources:
Daily News: Another horse dies during morning training at Santa Anita Tuesday
CBS: Santa Anita Racetrack Suspends Racing Indefinitely After 21st Horse Dies
Fox News: Santa Anita Park suspends racing indefinitely after 21st horse dies
Image Courtesy of Suzanne Neubaur’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
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3 Responses
Finally! Racing horses to death is morally bankrupt and needs to end.
About time. I used to go to Pimlico Race Track in Baltimore, but my feelings about horse racing changed when I learned about all the steroids and injuries and deaths in horse racing. There’s nothing “sporting” about a pastime in which animals routinely suffer and die.
It’s inexcusable that even one horse should die in the name of greed and “entertainment.” The trainers involved also need to be investigated. Drugging injured horses to make them run when they should be resting and recovering is rampant in this greedy industry.