Princess Lili B broke both front legs at the conclusion of a half-mile workout and was euthanized.
ERIC SONDENHEIMER: ‘In response to a ‘baffling surge’ of horse deaths at Santa Anita that has roiled the sport, the track’s owners Thursday banned the all race day medication and limited the use of whips. The move, believed to be without precedent in North American racing, came hours after the 22nd horse died at Santa Anita since Dec. 26. “We have arrived at a watershed moment,” Belinda Stronach, chairman and president of track owner The Stronach Group, wrote in an open letter. Princess Lili B broke both front legs at the conclusion of a half-mile workout and was euthanized. Santa Anita suspended racing last week in response to the previous deaths. Training resumed Wednesday and the track hoped to start racing again next week…
As the drama played out at Santa Anita on Thursday, Congress moved to bring increased oversight to the sport. Rep. Andy Barr (R-Ky.) and Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.) reintroduced the Horseracing Integrity Act, which would ban the use of medication in the 24 hours before a race and introduce national standards for horse-racing to replace the hodgepodge of regulations from 38 state racing commissions. The bill was first introduced in 2017. During congressional hearings last year, some industry stalwarts railed against the ban on race day medication’. SOURCE…
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