Share
Sports

Santa Anita set to resume racing on March 29

Share

ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) — Santa Anita plans to resume racing on March 29, pending approval of new safety and medication rules by the California Horse Racing Board.

Racing has been suspended since March 5 at the track, where 22 horses have suffered fatal injuries since Dec. 26. Limited training is being allowed on the main dirt track while testing of the surface and new rules involving safety and medication are being worked out.

The track, along with Golden Gate Fields in Northern California, and the Thoroughbred Owners of California reached agreement late Saturday to enact the most stringent medication rules in North America.

All horses born in or after 2018 will race at Santa Anita and Golden Gate with no race-day medication, including the anti-bleeding medication Lasix. That means all 2-year-old horses starting in 2020 and after will race medication-free.

All horses born before 2018 will race at the two tracks owned by The Stronach Group under the same guidelines, but Lasix will still be permitted only at 50 percent of current levels.

Dionne Benson, executive director of the Racing Medication & Testing Consortium, says extra time to adjust is necessary since the Lasix change will require many trainers to manage their horses without the medication for the first time.

Nearly every country outside the U.S. bans the use of Lasix on race days. Only 3.6 percent of the nearly 300,000 starts last year in the U.S. were made without Lasix, according to The Jockey Club.

CHRB chairman Chuck Winner says he will move the previously scheduled March 21 board meeting to March 28 in order for the full board to consider and vote on items that need its approval. The later date complies with the legally required 10-day public notice for meetings.

Santa Anita, Golden Gate and the TOC have agreed on the following:

— transparency on all veterinary records;

— strict limits on the use of any pain or anti-inflammatory medication and treatment, including legal therapeutic anti-inflammatory drugs, joint injections, shockwave therapy, and anabolic steroids;

— trainers must apply for permission to have their horses participate in timed workouts at least 48 hours in advance;

— no therapeutic medications or treatments will be allowed without a qualified veterinary diagnosis from a state-licensed vet;

— strict out-of-competition testing;

Related:
Mets Sign Star Outfielder to the Largest Contract in Sports History

— increasing the time required for horses to be on-site before a race;

— investment by TSG in diagnostic equipment to help in the early detection of pre-existing conditions in horses.

“TSG is committed to the principles of safe horse racing for both equine and human athletes and to making California racing the best in the world,” said Belinda Stronach, TSG chairwoman and president. “It is my hope the other tracks in California will follow suit.”

TSG negotiated with TOC and the California Thoroughbred Trainers to reach the agreement.

“I am confident we all share the same goal of making California racing safer and doing everything we can to provide additional safety and protection for our horses,” said Greg Avioli, TOC president and CEO.

The new rules could result in trainers and owners moving their horses to other states with less restrictive medication rules.

The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office said Friday it would with the CHRB to investigate what caused the horses’ deaths.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has also urged an investigation into trainers and vets.

The Western Journal has not reviewed this Associated Press story prior to publication. Therefore, it may contain editorial bias or may in some other way not meet our normal editorial standards. It is provided to our readers as a service from The Western Journal.

Truth and Accuracy

Submit a Correction →



We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.

Tags:
,
Share
The Associated Press is an independent, not-for-profit news cooperative headquartered in New York City. Their teams in over 100 countries tell the world’s stories, from breaking news to investigative reporting. They provide content and services to help engage audiences worldwide, working with companies of all types, from broadcasters to brands. Photo credit: @AP on Twitter
The Associated Press was the first private sector organization in the U.S. to operate on a national scale. Over the past 170 years, they have been first to inform the world of many of history's most important moments, from the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the bombing of Pearl Harbor to the fall of the Shah of Iran and the death of Pope John Paul.

Today, they operate in 263 locations in more than 100 countries relaying breaking news, covering war and conflict and producing enterprise reports that tell the world's stories.
Location
New York City




Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. Advertise Today.

Conversation