Santa Anita Park recently completed its Winter-Spring season with an impressive 99.97% safety record since September 29, 2023, making it one of the safest tracks in North America among those with a comparable volume of racing and training.
Over the course of the season, 6,678 horses participated in races on Santa Anita’s main track and turf course, resulting in two racing fatalities and eight deaths from training injuries, according to the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB). This marks a significant 90% improvement in racing fatalities over the past five years since the implementation of reforms to modernize the sport of Thoroughbred racing by 1/ST Racing, the CHRB, and industry stakeholders.
Nate Newby, SVP and General Manager of Santa Anita Park, expressed gratitude to the entire racing community for prioritizing horse safety above all else. He credited the diligent efforts of owners, trainers, jockeys, veterinarians, and track workers for making safety the top priority. Newby also commended Dennis Moore and his crew for their leadership at Santa Anita Park.
Santa Anita Park’s veterinarians conducted nearly 6,400 examinations before horses worked at the track since September 1 of the previous year. Chief Veterinary Officer for 1/ST Racing Dionne Benson highlighted how adopting Santa Anita Park and California protocols has had a positive impact on overall horse safety since implementing these reforms.
