Santa Anita Park opens its 23-day fall racing meet Friday following a very tough spring racing season that saw dozens of horses die.
There have been 31 horse fatalities at Santa Anita since December.
The fall racing meet begins today at @santaanitapark amid intense scrutiny following 31 horse deaths since late December. @KNX1070 pic.twitter.com/fF04rU5jNY
— Margaret Carrero (@KNXmargaret)
September 27, 2019 This time around, the track plans to have a seven-member veterinary inspection team on hand to oversee every aspect of training and racing operations.
In response to the horse deaths, Santa Anita and the California Horse Racing Board also created a safety review team made up of veterinarians and stewards that have the authority to scratch a horse from a race if even one questions its fitness to run.
"We've built this bond through generations of working together..."Take an inside look at the deep-rooted connections formed throughout the racing culture at #SantaAnitaPark; transforming tradition for the future of horse racing. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/1BxmEiECNC
— Santa Anita Park (@santaanitapark)
September 24, 2019 Other safety measures put in place include requiring trainers to get permission ahead of working out their horses and investing in diagnostic equipment to help with the early detection of pre-existing conditions.
On the last day of Santa Anita’s spring meet, protesters gathered at one of the main gates calling for an end to the horse racing sport altogether.
