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THURSDAY, JUNE 27 - JULY 3, 2019
Since 1996
VOL. 7, , NO. 25
IS THE SPORT OF KINGS ON THE LINE? Santa Anita bans Hall of Fame trainer from storied race track Terry MILLER tmiller@beaconmedianews.com
I
n the beginning, horse racing categorically was the sport of kings; the first jockey was himself a king. When horse racing started, it was equine racing for British royalty’s pleasure. What is going on in the horse racing business now? It’s hard to read between the lines. It’s even harder to find a trainer or owner who will go on the record that medication is overused in horse racing and training. In fact, the entire industry has seen a major disturbance this year after a seemingly never-ending spate of equine deaths at Santa Anita. While not a record, by any stretch of the imagination, the equine deaths at Santa Anita garnered international attention and investigation(s) into the horse racing industry in general. Horse racing junkies, owners, trainers and animal welfare activists often clash, yet each proclaims to have the horses' best interests at heart. But there’s the rub. Just last week, Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer was banned from racetracks owned by The Stronach Group, which released a brief statement June 22 in the wake of another equine fatality last Saturday at Santa Anita Park. "Individuals who do not embrace the new rules and safety measures that put horse and rider safety above all else will have no place at any Stronach Group race-
Will implemented changes be enough to turn the tide of negative public opinion? - Photo by Terry Miller / Beacon Media News
track," the statement said. "We regret that Mr. Hollendorfer's record in recent months at both Santa Anita and Golden Gate Fields has become increasingly challenging and does not match the level of safety and accountability we demand. Effective immediately, Mr. Hollendorfer is no longer
welcome to stable, race, or train his horses at any of our facilities." Hollendorfer was banned by the ownership of Santa Anita on Saturday after a fourth horse from his stables was euthanized Saturday. This brings the total number of horse fatalities at Santa Anita this past season to 30.
On the recommendation of a special panel convened to review horses' medical, training and racing history, the track's stewards scratched four horses trained by Hollendorfer that were entered to run last weekend. The high number of fatalities have led officials at Santa Anita and the Cali-
fornia Horse Racing Board (CHRB) to initiate several measures to address horse and rider safety. The spate of deaths has drawn national political attention, including from Gov. Gavin Newsom and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who has called for racing to stop while training and racing conditions are inspected.
According to Blood Horse, Hollendorfer trainee American Currency was euthanized Saturday morning after sustaining a fatal injury during a training session. The 4-year-old gelding was the 30th equine fatality during racing or training at the Southern California track since the current meet began on Dec. 26. Four of those horses were trained by Hollendorfer. The others were Battle of Midway, Psychedelicat, and Kochees. Meanwhile, horse racing continues this coming weekend at Los Alamitos and despite Santa Anita’s ban, the owners there welcome Hollendorfer, and his horses: “Los Alamitos will gladly provide stalls to Jerry Hollendorfer, a Hall of Fame trainer and an unexcelled horseman. Unless forbidden by the California Horse Racing Board, we intend to permit entries from Hollendorfer. We do not feel he should be a scapegoat for a problem which derives from a number of factors,” stated Edward C. Allred, CEO Los Alamitos. The great majority of horses have died or been put to death after having raced or trained on Santa Anita's dirt track since it was installed. Southern California had an unusually wet winter, with 17.85 inches of rain falling on the Pasadena/ Arcadia area in January and February, just before racing was suspended in the first week of March — more than double the historical average for the same period. Read More in our websites
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