A group of protesters opposed to horse racing demonstrated outside of Santa Anita last weekgetty images
U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) has "issued a challenge to the California Horse Racing Board" to make sure this weekend's Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita Park goes off without incident, according to John Cherwa of the L.A. TIMES. In a letter to CHRB Exec Dir Rick Baedeker, Feinstein wrote, "I believe this weekend presents a critical test for the future of horse racing in California and in the United States. If horse racing can not be conducted in a safe, and humane manner that protects the life and safety of horses and jockeys, it may be time to reexamine the future of this sport in our state and in our country." Cherwa notes Santa Anita has endured 36 horse fatalities since Dec. 30 of last year, including "six during this abbreviated six-week meeting which ends Sunday." California Gov. Gavin Newsom also has "called for increased scrutiny of the sport" (L.A. TIMES, 11/1). CBS' Nikki Battiste reports a record 30 veterinarians will be on hand at Santa Anita this weekend. The "good news is this is bringing attention to the Horse Racing Integrity Act, a federal bill that could ultimately ban all drugs for horses" ("CBS This Morning," 11/1).
CLOUD HANGING OVER: In Louisville, Tim Sullivan writes thoroughbred racing this weekend is "effectively on trial, tempting fate and risking its future by staging the Breeders' Cup championships at a track that has become synonymous with equine tragedy." Santa Anita's mortality rate has "brought intense scrutiny and fast-tracked reforms to a sport in which the death of animal athletes has long been deemed an unavoidable byproduct." As a consequence, the results of this weekend's races "could easily be overshadowed by their body count." HOF jockey Pat Day said he will be "on my knees praying that it's a great weekend of championship racing with no accidents and no injuries." Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia described his mood as "holding my breath, just like everybody else" (Louisville COURIER JOURNAL, 11/1). In California, Mark Whicker noted the Breeders' Cup, knowing Santa Anita's recent troubles, "had every opportunity to move to Churchill Downs or somewhere else and did not." The world's top trainers, horses and jockeys have come with "eyes wide open" (ORANGE COUNTRY REGISTER, 10/31).
WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS: NBC SPORTS' Tim Layden wrote horse racing for most of the year has been "consumed by a very real struggle for its future." There is a "rising public consciousness that hundreds of horses die every year in support of a gaming and entertainment exercise." Layden: "The goal is non-negotiable: Fewer dead horses. Far fewer." However, the question is whether that will "satisfy the activists, and their followers." It might be "impossible for racing to fully satisfy either of them, but racing must try." Layden: "Perhaps racing can survive this spike. But the next? And waiting for activists and media to simply lose interest, rather than fully and lastingly addressing the problem, is daring at best and suicidal at worst" (NBCSPORTS.com, 10/31).
