One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
Horse Racing Will Continue At Los Alamitos — With Increased Scrutiny
A race horse attends morning workout at Santa Anita Park on June 15, 2019. Santa Anita closed last year because of horse deaths. Los Alamitos faces similar scrutiny. (David McNew/Getty Images)
The California Horse Racing Board has approved a plan that will allow races to continue at Los Alamitos track. The Orange County facility had been placed on probation and was at risk of losing its license after 29 horses died there this year — 19 while racing or training and 10 from illness.
The new plan includes:
- An additional veterinarian to monitor horses during training and on exiting and entering the track
- A "security steward" to oversee veterinary and barn practices
- A panel to review race entries; the panel can reject an entry for any reason related to horse or rider safety
- A fatality review whenever a horse dies, regardless of the cause of death
The board voted unanimously (6-0) today to approve the track's plan. They issued a brief statement following the vote:
After the Los Alamitos Racing Association presented a plan to the California Horse Racing Board that includes additional safety personnel and greater scrutiny of horses in training and entered to race, the Board accepted the plan and took no action against the racetrack’s license, while indicating intent to monitor the plan for effectiveness and compliance.
READ THE FULL PROPOSAL ALONG WITH PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Sponsored message
READ MORE COVERAGE OF HORSE RACING DEATHS:
- Protesters Call for Horseracing Ban After 26th Horse Death At Santa Anita Park
- Santa Anita Park Averages 50 Horse Deaths A Year. This Year Is Nothing New
- Santa Anita Horse Fatalities Linked To Pre-Existing Injuries, Pressure To Race, Poor Knowledge Of Anatomy
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
