Horses need protection

Los Angeles, CA — On Tuesday, just the second day of 2024, the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) reported the first racehorse fatality of the year at Santa Anita Park. Derby Prospect, a 6-year-old gelding with only one career race, died after a training injury. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles (spcaLA) sharply condemns the continued peril of horseracing, and specifically at Santa Anita Park.

spcaLA encourages animal welfare advocates to contact elected officials demanding further investigation and enforcement of the law.

After 43 horse deaths in 2019, the Stronach Group that owns Santa Anita, announced that it planned to make changes to protect horses. Also that year, spcaLA backed California SB 469 (Senator Bill Dodd, D-Napa) which authorizes the CHRB to suspend horse racing licenses to protect the health and safety of horses and riders.

“These measures have proved inadequate for Derby Prospect and the 17 other horses that died at Santa Anita Park last year,” said spcaLA President, Madeline Bernstein. “As long as horse racing remains a legal pastime, we must protect racing horses.”

spcaLA believes that animals, as living creatures, have value beyond economic measurement, and are entitled to legal, moral, and ethical consideration and protection. As such, the Society opposes using animals for entertainment purposes, such as circuses, rodeos, and horseracing.