Santa Anita Opposes The Move to Shut Down Despite Two More Horse Deaths

Santa Anita will not close despite two more dead horses in two days, and total 29 has died at Santa Anita, where the management has decided to go on racing.

Truffalino collapsed in the last stages of the third race on turf Sunday. A track spokesperson said the 3-year-old filly died of a heart attack.

Hall of Famer Richard Mandella couched the horse, and Joe Talamo rode on her Truffalino had won once in six career starts and wages of $53,602, according to information by Equibase.

One day before, Formal Dude pulled up in the 10th race and was taken off the track after breaking down just close to the finish line. Tiago Pereira was aboard the most loved couched by Phil D’Amato. The 4-year-old horse had no wins in six career starts and had a salary of $15,127, according to Equibase. Formal Dude underwent organization.

There have been recommendations by California Horse Racing Board for the track to suspend the remaining days of its meet, which is programmed to end on June 23. Nonetheless, Santa Anita management has decided to keep on racing.

The racing board does not bear the mandate to suspend any race meet or remove race dates from an existing tournament without the track operator’s approval or without sitting in a public meeting that needs a ten days’ notice.

The CHRB recommended that Santa Anita suspend racing but permit horses to go on with training sessions, having faith it would give the industry sufficient time to put in place the announced safety measures and initiatives fully.

“It is our perception that Santa Anita management, after consultation with some other particular industry stakeholders, believes that for several reasons, the future of California racing is best-taken care of by continuing to race,” the racing board said in a statement.

In giving Santa Anita a ten days’ notice, the CHRB might manage to close down the track for the three final days of the meet.

Santa Anita has put in place a series of changes which are aimed at bringing improvements on safety. However, despite its hard work and a six-week stretch in which no horse deaths were recorded at the Arcadia track, more deaths have taken place. The Stronach Group, Santa Anita’s Owner, insist that the updated rule changes regarding pre-race medication and the jockey use of their whip, which it stated that it has led to catastrophic fatalities need to be seen through.

“Either the regulations aren’t powerful enough, or the rules are not being followed, but whichever the reason for the deaths of two more horses, Santa Anita should  give ear to the California Horse Racing Board and close down,” stated Kathy Guillermo, the senior vice president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

The Breeder’s Cup World Championships Scheduled in Nov 1-2 is programmed to be hosted in Santa Anita. The planners of the American flat racing are set to discuss a probable switch of the 2019 fixture from Santa Anita following the fatal deaths.

It is believed that the only place to move the venue due to sufficient and permanent infrastructure, and also host the event at short notice is Churchill Downs, the home of Kentucky Derby.