Racing groups warn of major job losses due to Santa Anita closure

Racing stakeholders in California have warned of major job losses as they work together to persuade the local authority to rescind its decision to prohibit racing at Santa Anita due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The track had been racing behind closed doors but was forced to close by the Los Angeles County Health Department on March 28, just hours before beginning a three-day meeting, with an on-site team permitted to care for more than 1,700 horses stabled there.

The Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) has been liaising with the Stronach Group, which owns Santa Anita, and the local trainers' association to present an argument for the resumption of racing.

"The continuation of live racing does not present a health risk to the 1,000 plus workers on the backstretch who live in dormitories and must be at the track to support the training of 1,700 horses every day," read a statement on the TOC website on Sunday.

The TOC noted that the care and exercise of horses are already deemed essential activities and urged the country to send inspectors to the track to witness the safety precautions in place.

"The revenue generated from continued live racing at Santa Anita is critical for the thoroughbred ecosystem to keep these backstretch workers employed," the TOC statement continued.

"If there is a prolonged period of no racing many of these jobs will certainly be eliminated and up to 1,000 people could be added to the current LA homeless problem."

"What we are seeking is not extreme or without precedent. All other counties in California where live racing is conducted have accepted these arguments and are allowing live racing to continue under the strict safety precautions that we also have at Santa Anita."

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