WASHINGTON – Kitty Block, CEO and president of the Humane Society of the United States released on official statement regarding the racehorse fatalities at Los Alamitos racetrack:
“The deaths of two horses during one race at Los Alamitos track in California this weekend is appalling and highlights the need for uniform standards at racetracks across the country. Mighty Elijah, who broke down during the race, is the eighth horse under trainer Jerry Hollendorfer’s care to die this year. No doubt due to the pressure from several CA tracks, he will begin racing in Arkansas in 2020. Despite having been sanctioned 19 times since 2006 for the over medication or use of illicit medications on horses and having been banned from racing at the Santa Anita track and by the NY Horse Racing Association, he can simply move to another track with different rules. Imagine if the NFL had different drug and medication rules for each of the 32 professional football stadiums. The sport would be chaos with no national standards or consistency. That’s what is the case with horseracing, and it’s unacceptable and needs to change. If this isn’t a wakeup call to the industry, then nothing will be. The Horseracing Integrity Act will create a uniform set of rules for all trainers in all states and we call on Congress to pass this vital bill so trainers can’t continue to game the system.”