Racing Running As Scheduled at Santa Anita, Despite Feinstein call for Suspension

[Wandering Eyes]

In a letter to the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) Tuesday, California Senator Dianne Feinstein called for racing to be suspended at Santa Anita until an investigation into the 23 horses that have died at the track since late December has been completed, according to the LA Times.

“I believe that racing at Santa Anita should be suspended until the cause or causes of these deaths can be fully investigated,” wrote Feinstein, the Times reported. “I also ask for more information about what the California Horse Racing Board is doing to both investigate this matter and address some of the concerns that these incidents have rightly raised.” 

The Stronach Group COO Tim Ritvo, however, told the TDN Tuesday afternoon that racing was running as scheduled this weekend. Racing is set to resume Thursday. The weekend’s card contains the $1 million GI Santa Anita Derby and the G1 Santa Anita “Big Cap” H., both of which were to be run in March, but were rescheduled due to a hiatus of racing of nearly a month at the facility while investigations into the track surface were conducted.

 The resumption of racing last weekend at the track was marred Sunday by the fatal injury sustained by the Peter Miller-trained Arms Runner.

 In a further development Tuesday, the CHRB announced a special meeting on Friday, Apr. 12 to discuss a possible relocation of race dates granted to Santa Anita.

 “Chairman Winner said the California Horse Racing Board under California law does not have the authority to suspend racing,” wrote CHRB chief information officer, Mike Marten, in an email. “He said any action with regard to racing dates requires a public hearing and 10-day public notice under California law.”

 Marten also wrote that Winner “has not yet received a letter from Senator Dianne Feinstein,” but that he is aware of it. “He believes it would be inappropriate to comment before having a discussion with Senator Feinstein,” Marten wrote.

 Feinstein wrote that she is “appalled that almost two dozen horses have died in just four months,” and that she asked the CHRB whether it was “considering other changes to improve the safety of horses after it agreed to phase out race-day medications and limit the use of whips on horses,” according to the Times.

 “While these are positive initial steps, please let me know whether the Board is considering other actions that have been proposed by trainers and animal welfare advocates, including the complete elimination of medications such as Lasix and the use of synthetic track surfaces,” Feinstein wrote, according to the Times. “In your view, would these or other steps be reasonable measures to prevent horse injuries and death?”

 

 

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