Racing at Santa Anita racecourse in America has been cancelled for the foreseeable future after the course will be taking measures to look into the safety of the track following 21 horse fatalities in the last 2 and half months.
It has been reported that there will be certainly no racing this weekend by California Thoroughbred Trainers president Jim Cassidy.
The president also explained that he had been in contact with the former track superintendent Dennis Moore, who will be joining back up with the racecourse to help deal with this issue in a consultancy role.
This drastic measure to bring Moore back in was made shortly after Light The Way, on Tuesday morning suffered a fatal injury on the main track in what was supposed to be a routine training exercise.
This case was the 21st equine death at the Santa Anita track since the meeting opened back on boxing day of 2018. This was also the fourth fatality to happen on the main track during a training sessions since 23rd February.
(Credit Racing Post) The owners of the racecourse released a statement saying they had: "been in constant communication with the California Horse Racing Board and numerous key industry stakeholders, who are in full agreement with the decision to suspend racing and training".
The Stronach Group owners' chief operating officer Tim Ritvo also said: "The safety, health, and welfare of the horses and jockeys is our top priority. While we are confident further testing will confirm the soundness of the track, the decision to close is the right thing to do at this time."
This is one of the biggest on going problems seen in the sport on stateside and it comes at such a crucial time for the racecourse, with one of its biggest meetings of the season set to take place this weekend but will not anymore with no discussions having taken place as to when or if it will be rescheduled.
The meeting that was set for March 9th would have have shown off two Grade 1 races and also a pair of Grade 2 contests, with one of the races seen as a preparation race for the Kentucky Derby, one of the biggest races in American racings calendar.
Los Alamitos racecourse has offered to step in and help out with owner Ed Allred saying his track will step in to help with training and stabling if needed with 300-350 stalls to be made available for the short term, so horses can ship in and train.