Breaking! Upcoming Protest After Santa Anita Racetrack Re-Opens Following The Deaths of 19 Horses In Only Two Months

On Monday, Santa Anita Park closed its doors temporally following the heartbreaking death of 19 horses within the last two months. Today, WAN was shocked to learn that the Arcadia-based racetrack announced that they would be opening their doors once again.

The temporary closure was due to determining if the excessive rain was a contributing factor to the recent deaths, but according the a press release this morning by Santa Anita, the one mile main track has been deemed “one hundred percent ready.” Really? After 19 horses die unexpectedly.

SFGATE reported that the closure was announced after Battle of Midway, the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile Champion, was euthanized after a severe injury during training over the weekend. Sadly, veterinarians had determined that Battle of Midway would have to be put down.

How is it possible that after 19 deaths in a two month span of time, that Santa Anita race track is reopening so quickly?

WAN believes that it is because there is a large profit to be made in the billion dollar industry of horse racing, and the race track doesn’t want to continue to lose any more money by remaining closed down.

To any compassionate person, the welfare of the animals should take precedent over lining their pockets off of the lives of these horses. The deaths of all 19 horses must be investigated and action must be taken to hold the Santa Anita Racetrack responsible for what happened.

According to HorseracingWrongs, an organization working to end horse racing through education in the United States, upwards of 2,000 horses die while racing or training on American racetracks annually.

How many more horses have to die before people wake up and realize that horse racing is cruel and should be a thing of the past?

Help Now by joining Last Chance For Animals’ upcoming protest on Sunday, March 3rd, from 10:45am-1:00pm to honor the 19 horses who have lost their lives.

The protest will be taking place at: Santa Anita Park Racetrack 285 Huntington Dr., Arcadia, CA 91007 

(Meet at the intersection of Huntington Drive and Holly Avenue.)

For more information visit the event page HERE!