Four Bay Area residents laid on the track at Golden Gate Fields on Thursday afternoon in an effort to stop racing and shut down the track permanently.
This is according to Berkeley-based Direct Action Everywhere, an animal advocacy group. An estimated 17 others gathered near the track's entrance at I-80 and Gilman St. with signs reading "Shut Down Golden Gate Fields."
"These beautiful animals live lives of exploitation and abuse for the sake of profit, then they’re killed for the same reason," said Rocky Chau,one of the protesters, via a press release Thursday. "The public is increasingly aware of the reality of this barbaric industry, and is demanding that we leave it in the past."
The demonstration started just after 12 p.m. Thursday.
The four were still on the track as of about 4 p.m., connected by "heavily-weighted" PVC pipes, Direct Action Everywhere said.
Officials said the four activists on the track had prepared to be arrested. In addition to forcing the day’s races to be canceled, the protest also shuttered a nearby COVID-19 vaccination site for about two hours.
At least five horses have died at the track so far this year.
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