If Santa Anita is forced to shut down permanently over the deaths of 29 horses, thousands of employees could lose their jobs and some may end up homeless, the racetracks workers warned at a rally Thursday afternoon.
Employees held signs declaring their love for horses, while speakers described the potentially catastrophic impact a closure could have on the industrys human counterparts.
“I would not have a place to go,” said Dagoberto Lopez, who has worked in the industry for 35 years. “The experience I have is not transferable to other jobs, so I would be hurt tremendously.”
Dagoberto Lopez, a groom who works for trainer Doug ONeill, talks about how he has supported his family and put two kids in college working at Santa Anita Park as backstretch workers and their supporters gather to show support in keeping the Arcadia racetrack open on Thursday, June 20, 2019 after a cluster of horse deaths have some calling for the parks closure. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
In hopes of keeping Santa Anita Park open, backstretch workers, their families and supporters gather at the track to show support for the racehorses and their jobs on Thursday, June 20, 2019 after a cluster of horse deaths have some calling for the parks closure. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
- SoundThe gallery will resume inseconds
In hopes of keeping Santa Anita Park open, backstretch workers, their families and supporters gather at the track to show support for the racehorses and their jobs on Thursday, June 20, 2019 after a cluster of horse deaths have some calling for the parks closure. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Deacon Arnie Lopez blesses backstretch workers at Santa Anita Park as they gather to show support in keeping the Arcadia racetrack open on Thursday, June 20, 2019 after a cluster of horse deaths have some calling for the parks closure. For 27 years Lopez has held Sunday and Monday evening masses for the workers on the backstretch. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
In hopes of keeping Santa Anita Park open, backstretch workers, their families and supporters gather at the track to show support for the racehorses and their jobs on Thursday, June 20, 2019 after a cluster of horse deaths have some calling for the parks closure. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
In hopes of keeping Santa Anita Park open, backstretch workers, their families and supporters gather at the track to show support for the racehorses and their jobs on Thursday, June 20, 2019 after a cluster of horse deaths have some calling for the parks closure. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Show Caption of Expand
Lopez described how his job has allowed him to provide for his family, including two sons who were able to go to college because of scholarships from the Edwin J. Gregson Foundation, a nonprofit based out of Santa Anita and established by the California Thoroughbred Trainers board.
Livelihoods at stake[hhmc]
Lopez and the other workers support the extensive reforms put in place by the racetracks management and state officials over the past year, but they fear that those outraged over the deaths have forgotten about the stable workers, ticket sellers and other employees who could lose their livelihood.
Many fear a ballot referendum could ban horse racing in California.
Approximately 3,000 employees work in the backstretch, the area where horses are stabled and maintained, according to the speakers. The industry directly employs 77,000 employees statewide and contributes billions to the economy, they said.
“We all stand united to protect our horses, and to protect our jobs,” Lopez said at the gathering.
29 horse deaths this meet[hhmc]
A total of 29 horses have died since the season began in December, with most of the deaths occurring in the early half of the season. Experts believe a perfect storm of increased horse traffic at Santa Anita and heavier than usual rains contributed to the deaths. Others have pointed to the industrys overuse of medications as a potential culprit.
The California Horse Racing Board and the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office are still investigating the causes.
“There could be something out of the investigation that we dont know about,” said Alan Balch, the executive director of the California Thoroughbred Trainers. Some of the fatalities were unavoidable, Balch said. At least one horse died from heart failure, a type of sudden death that isnt diagnosable and still mostly a mystery to veterinarians.
Efforts are underway to better detect preexisting injuries in horses limbs, however. Santa Anita invested $500,000 in a new technology capable of detecting damage at a microscopic level while the horse is standing.
Last week, following another death, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Sen. Dianne Feinstein urged Santa Anita to end its current meet early, but the Stronach Group, which owns the Arcadia track, declared it would stay open until its scheduled end on Saturday, June 23. In response, the CHRB placed an independent five-member team of veterinarians and stewards at Santa Anita to clear every horse before a race.
Reforms instituted[hhmc]
Santa Anita has instituted a several other reforms in the wake of the deaths, including stricter rules for medications and more thorough examinations.
But the racing fatalities have continued, albeit at a slower pace in the latter half of the season. The deaths stopped for nearly seven weeks between the 23rd on March 31 and the 24th on May 17.
Ahead of the workers rally, Kathy Guillermo, the senior vice president of PETA, urged the workers to throw their weight behind ensuring the industry institutes reforms.
“The backstretch workers have very little chance of cRead More – Source
[contf] [contfnew] 
daily news
[contfnewc] [contfnewc]
