Blacker takes ‘full responsibility’ for missing vet checks

Saying “I take full responsibility” after being charged with breezing horses 527 times in 1 1/2 years without first completing mandated veterinary checks, trainer Dan Blacker said Saturday he learned after the fact that the way he had been conducting workouts for years was “not always in line” with California state regulations.

“I learned that our long-established procedures, while complying with Santa Anita workout rules, were not always in line with the California Horse Racing Board rule regarding pre-work inspection and reporting,” Blacker said in a written statement posted on X, formerly Twitter. “As soon as I was made aware, we immediately began to operate in compliance with the rule.”

The CHRB filed a formal complaint against Blacker on Sept. 8 after a stewards inspection that was triggered by the death this summer of unraced 2-year-old filly Animae at Santa Anita.

Flashback: Blacker is accused of incomplete vet checks.

“In June one of my horses suffered a pelvic injury during a workout,” Blacker said. “The severity of the injury became apparent back at the barn and sadly proved fatal. Both the necropsy and recent diagnostics showed no pre-existing injury. This was my first training injury resulting in euthanasia since I started training in 2011.”

It was the first recorded death of any Blacker-trained horse in nearly 10 years. According to the CHRB, he had two racing fatalities with That’s Dangerous in 2012 and Rosies Rascal in 2013 but none since.

Blacker, who is based in Southern California, faces a possible fine and suspension when he faces a CHRB hearing that has been postponed once.

“I want to make it clear that I am in contact with my veterinary team daily,” Blacker said. “We jog up every horse every day before they go to the track. The horses in training are thoroughly evaluated by myself, my team and my veterinarian on a routine basis.”

Blacker opened his statement Saturday saying, “Horse welfare is the top priority at my barn. It has been for 11 years since I started training. I have always been an advocate for safety and medication reform.” He closed it saying, “I take full responsibility for this matter and the consequences it will bring forth. I stand firm in saying that all the horses in my program have always received the highest level of care.”