Why So Many Horses Have Died at Santa Anita

[Eugene]

Source: New York Times

Why So Many Horses Have Died at Santa Anita

By Joe Drape and Corina Knoll
June 26, 2019

ARCADIA, Calif. — On the morning of March 29, Santa Anita Park was reopening for racing for the first time in three weeks after the mystifying deaths of nearly two dozen horses.

Satellite trucks, national news reporters and animal rights activists converged for what had become a macabre death watch.

But California regulators were watching a live surveillance feed of a trainer’s assistant carrying a bucket into the stall of a horse named Tick Tock. Moments after the assistant left, a white foam was visible on the horse’s lips, often a telltale sign of performance-enhancing drugs.

Investigators later found syringes in the bucket, along with a fatigue-fighting agent known in racing parlance as a milkshake, according to hearing transcripts from the state’s Horse Racing Board.

The news that investigators believed Tick Tock had received such a concoction — before the first race on the first day of the track’s return to racing, no less — is indicative of the dysfunction that has enveloped Santa Anita the past six months, ...

-snip-

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/26/sports/santa-anita-horse-deaths.html

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. Many of those people lay the blame on a push by the Canada-based Stronach Group,

which has owned the track for two decades, to maximize profits.

Thanks for posting this info..I would have missed it otherwise....

[emmaverybo]

2. Thank you. I consider these deaths criminal and tragic. The horses don't ask to race, do everything

to obey and please, make people loads of money, but get drugged to death as thanks.

[Enoki33]

3. Sad to read this. As my home was minute away, l would have breakfast

there on Saturday mornings and watch the early workouts. Got to know a few trainers, jockeys and stable hands. They all were careful to tell me where l was allowed to to go, and where not to. I was impressed with their security, but realized almost all doping problems originated from those with the necessary clearance. They will solve their many problems and be a an even better track to visit.

[dhill926]

4. Shut it the fuck down...: