By Equestrian Life

A California Senate bill to increase horse safety at racetracks was passed last week. The bill followed 23 horse deaths at the Santa Anita Park racetrack in Arcadia in just over four months.

Senate Bill 469 allows the California Horse Racing Board to quickly suspend racing at tracks when dangerous conditions exist. There is usually a 10-day meeting notice, but the bill waives that requirement.

Speaking to Fox KKFX 11, renowned horse trainer Monty Roberts has weighed in on the debate surrounding the unusually high number of deaths at the Californian track, saying, “They should have stopped, they didn’t. They were doing millions of dollars in races each day."

Roberts believes the issue lies with the track. Following management through eight years of drought conditions, heavy rainfall changed the track conditions, which were not maintained accordingly. “They made a corporate decision not to replace the track ...with a board room full of people that seldom ever get out from behind their desk. And they don't get under the soil and look,” said Roberts. 

To date, no formal inquiries have found fault with the track at Santa Anita.

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