LA Times: Santa Anita should shut down its meet early

Claiming that the track has “no good explanation” for 26 horse deaths since late December, the Los Angeles Times’ editorial board called Wednesday for Santa Anita Park to immediately halt its racing season.

“It’s time for Santa Anita to end its season or stop racing until it has (an explanation),” the editorial states.

The Arcadia, Calif., track saw 23 horse deaths from racing or training from Dec. 26-March 31. After a 46-day stretch without any fatalities, three more horses have died since May 19.

The most recent death came Sunday, when 9-year-old gelding Kochees was euthanized following an injury suffered Saturday.

U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) called Monday for “an immediate moratorium on racing at Santa Anita.”

“We need a more thorough investigation of practices and conditions at the track before any more races are held,” Feinstein said in renewing her own call to shut down racing.

The LA Times’ editorial board agreed with Feinstein’s assertion, though it credited the owners of Santa Anita for “groundbreaking reforms” that include new guidelines on medication and on rest for horses between starts.

The LA Times editorial called for nationwide reform, saying “the spotlight on Santa Anita should be widened to all the racetracks in the U.S., where deaths are lamented but tolerated.”

The board cited the following statement from The Stronach Group, Santa Anita’s owner: “The fact that horses running in America are five times more likely to suffer a catastrophic injury than horses running at international venues is unacceptable and must immediately change.”

Twelve racing days are left in Santa Anita’s current season, starting Friday and running through June 23. The track is also scheduled to host the Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Nov. 1-2.