After a hiatus of nearly a month prompted by a spate of horse deaths, racing will resume at Santa Anita Park today, one day after the California Horse Racing Board approved restrictions on certain medications administered to the animals.
The board also adopted a restriction that would mostly ban jockeys' use of whips or riding crops during races. But that regulation will not take immediate effect.
The rule is still subject to a 45-day public comment period and will have to return to the board for a final vote.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) calls it a "watershed moment for racing" and thanks Santa Anita "for standing up to all the trainers, veterinarians, and owners who have used any means - from the whip to the hypodermic syringe - to force injured or unfit horses to run."
Before today, there have been 21 horse deaths and officials were targeting March 22 as the date to resume racing.
Some animal rights activists are calling for even bigger changes. PETA says it wants to ban all medications in the week before a race and end the practice of beating horses with whips to make them run faster.
PETA is calling for a criminal investigation into the horse deaths.