Citing Horse Welfare and Safety Concerns, 1/ST Racing to Cut Simulcast Signal to Puerto Rico

[Wandering Eyes]

Effective this weekend, 1/ST RACING will discontinue selling the simulcast signal from Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita Park to Hipódromo Camarero in Puerto Rico to address increasing concerns regarding horse welfare and safety at that racetrack, it was announced Thursday evening.

This announcement comes in agreement with the horsemen's groups in Florida and California after other measures in recent years have failed to substantially bolster the care for racehorses in Puerto Rico, particularly when horses are no longer racing.

“Exporting our signal to Hipódromo Camarero represents millions of dollars of handle to 1/ST RACING but we, along with our horsemen's groups in Florida and California, have agreed this is a necessary step to ensure Puerto Rican racing stakeholders understand that we will not do business with individuals or companies that do not make horse safety, welfare and post-racing retirement a top priority,” said Aidan Butler, President, 1/ST. “I am grateful for the support of the Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association as well as the Thoroughbred Owners of California in this decision and together we hope Hipódromo Camarero will work quickly to improve the treatment of horses both during and following their racing careers.”

Tom Cannell, President of the Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, added, “The Florida horsemen stand firmly behind 1/ST RACING's decision to suspend its racing signal to Puerto Rico. The ongoing welfare issues surrounding the treatment of Thoroughbreds on the island are unacceptable, and meaningful change will only come when the industry demands accountability. We commend 1/ST for taking this principled stand.”

Butler said, “In addition to discontinuing the simulcast signal to Hipódromo Camarero, any license holder who chooses to ship or sell a horse to Puerto Rico will no longer be welcome to race or train at 1/ST facilities. We are mindful of the potential impact these policies could have on the horses currently racing in Puerto Rico. To help protect and support the safety and welfare of these racehorses, we will be donating $100,000 to the Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare.”

“There is no place in our sport for neglect or inhumane treatment of horses,” said Bill Nader, President of Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC). “The TOC fully supports this action by 1/ST RACING as a necessary step and its $100,000 donation to help drive home the message that the horse must come first.”

1/ST previously worked with industry stakeholders to address significant welfare and safety concerns for horses transported from 1/ST tracks and training centers to race in Puerto Rico, including banning the transport of racehorses by cargo ship from 1/ST facilities. While this measure led Puerto Rico to change its policies on horse shipment, it exposed inadequate funding for aftercare for horses retiring from Hipódromo Camarero. As a result, 1/ST required the connections of any horse sold to Puerto Rico from a 1/ST racing or training facility to deposit money into an account with the horsemen to cover the aftercare and potential return shipment to the United States upon the horses' retirement.

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