Editorial: Fewer racehorses are dying — but still too many
LA TimesIt’s been two years since Santa Anita Park started a tumultuous season of horse racing that saw 37 horses die from racing or training and ushered in a new period of reform in this risky sport. To its credit, Stronach Group — owner of the prestigious Santa Anita track in Arcadia — quickly instituted groundbreaking protocols including a phaseout of the ubiquitous race-day drug Lasix, a diuretic, and tough restrictions on various anti-inflammatory drugs that can dangerously mask a horse’s injuries. The deaths alarmed the California Horse Racing Board, which in July put the track under a 10-day probation period and ordered it to come up with a safety plan. “Racing is always going to be dangerous for horses,” says Dr. Rick Arthur, veterinarian and equine medical director for the California Horse Racing Board.
History of this topic
Four horse deaths in single afternoon of racing blamed on ‘unique circumstances’
The Independent
A year later, racing is still trying to make sense of Churchill Downs deaths
LA Times
Investigation into Churchill Downs horse deaths finds no singular cause
LA Times
Santa Anita suffers its 15th horse death of 2020
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