California racetrack closed after 21 horses die

A celebrated racetrack in California has been shut down indefinitely after 21 horses have died there during training or racing since December.

All races and training have been suspended while the tracks undergo examination and testing at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, according to the facility's owner, the Stronach Group.

The latest death came Tuesday when a 4-year-old mare was put down after injuring her right leg during training.

The fatalities caught public attention two weeks ago when two horses died during training.

Since then, two other horses died in training and another during a race.

The 21 fatalities since December are almost double all horse deaths from last year.

As the death toll has risen, Santa Anita has come under heavy criticism from animal rights activists.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), an animal advocacy group, urged law enforcement to begin investigation of trainers and veterinarians to determine if injured horses were being forced to run.

"Virtually every thoroughbred who races in California is given phenylbutazone, a strong anti-inflammatory drug, 24 hours before a race, and this can mask injuries," said PETA senior vice-president Kathy Guillermo in a statement on March 2, following the 20th horse fatality in the latest string of deaths at the track. 

Some observers have suggested this winter's unusually cold and wet weather may have contributed to the horse deaths. Over a similar period in the 2017-18 season, 10 horses died and eight died in 2016-17, according to NBC News.

"There are many different factors that can contribute to this," Mick Peterson, a safety and racing-surface expert, told the Los Angeles Times. Track surfaces and pre-race veterinary exams are two things that affect every horse, aside from weather, he explained.

Located outside of Los Angeles, Santa Anita Park has traditionally been associated with the film and television industries. Movies, including The Story of Seabiscuit and A Star Is Born, were filmed there.

A "comprehensive evaluation of all existing safety measures and current protocols" will be conducted, the Stronach Group said in a statement. The measures include testing the surface with a device that mimics the impact of a horse running at full gallop.

The closure has postponed a lucrative race for older horses and a major prep race for young horses, both scheduled for this weekend at the park.

"The decision to close is the right thing to do at this time," said Tim Ritvo, chief operating officer of the Stronach Group, in a statement.

Contact the writer at liazhu@chinadailyusa.com