Ten horses died in the recent span of nine days at racetracks across New York, raising concern among animal-rights activists at a time when the sport has come under intense scrutiny following a series of deaths at a California racetrack earlier this year. The deaths, both racing and non-racing incidents, occurred at four tracks between July 9 and July 18 — one at Belmont Park; two at Monticello Raceway; three at Saratoga Race Course; and four at Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack.
Critics said the deaths were indicative of the dangerous industry. “It’s not unusual; it’s built into the system,” said Patrick Battuello, the founder, and president of Horse Racing Wrongs, a non-profit organization in the Albany area seeking to eliminate horse racing. A total of 50 horses, mostly thoroughbreds, have either died or been euthanized since Jan. 2 across New York’s 11 racetracks, according to state data. Thirty horses died this spring at a California track in Santa Anita this spring spurring a national debate around the sport.
Despite the recent incidents, horse-racing deaths in New York have been trending downward since 2010. The number of deaths per 1,000 starts is below the national average, according to the New York Racing Association. New York’s Gaming Commission, which is tasked with regulating the racing industry, adopted new regulations in 2013 aiming to bolster the safety of the industry following a string of fatalities at Aqueduct Raceway.
A spokesman for the Gaming Commission said the agency reviews the circumstances surrounding each death and uses the information obtained to prevent future incidents. Last Saturday, for example, NYRA shut down the historic Saratoga Race Course because of the high heat, the first time it did so in 13 years. “We remain focused on being proactive when it comes to risk management at New York racetracks,” the statement said. New York has sought to improve safety regulations for horse racing in recent years. Let’s hope it will increase.
