Horse Racing Integrity Act

On December 18th, a majority of the U.S. House of Representatives were confirmed as co-sponsors of the Horse-Racing Integrity Act of 2019 (HIA), paving the way for committee consideration and then a vote by the full House of Representatives. The legislation now has more than 218 co-sponsors, which is a majority of the 435 voting members of the House.  The bill was introduced in the … Continue reading Horse Racing Integrity Act

Right Down Santa Claus Lane

SANTA CLAUS (foaled in 1961) was a British-bred Irish trained race-horse and sire.  As a three year-old in 1964 the dark-coated bay stallion had his best year on the turf.  His most notable achievements were Winning the Irish 200 Guineas Stakes, as well as the Epsom and Irish Derbies. These Victories (in part) earned SANTA CLAUS the 1964 British Horse Of The Year award. The … Continue reading Right Down Santa Claus Lane

DA Reports On Santa Anita

Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey on Thursday issued a 17-page report on the deaths of horses at Santa Anita Park with more than two dozen recommendations on how to improve safety at all California racetracks.  The report found no criminal wrongdoing at Santa Anita Park. “Horse racing has inherent risks, but is a legally sanctioned sport in California,” Lacey said.  “Greater precautions are … Continue reading DA Reports On Santa Anita

Equine Words Of Wisdom

Today, December 13th is the National Day Of The Horse, and we here at the Daily Racing Blog are celebrating the day by reprinting some of our favorite (famous?) quotes about the animals that bring us so much joy. “I believe that horses bring out the best in us.  They demand standards of behavior and levels of kindness that we, as humans, then strive to … Continue reading Equine Words Of Wisdom

You May Always Ask Questions

Horse racing is a world of its own, and every racing newcomer has a few questions when they first dive into the sport (sometimes even after they’ve been in it for a while!).  Here are the answers to 11 questions that perhaps neophytes are too embarrassed to ask. 1. Why are horses scratched from a race? A scratch is when a horse is entered for … Continue reading You May Always Ask Questions

Making Strides For Safety

Many of the major United States track owners and racing associations have combined resources in a collaborative effort to bring meaningful improvements to the safety of horses and humans who compete in Thoroughbred racing. At the Keeneland library on November 19th, those industry leaders announced the formation of the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition.  The group includes Churchill Downs Inc., the New York Racing Association, The Stronach … Continue reading Making Strides For Safety

Donna Takes On P.E.T.A.

Donna Brothers is a former jockey turned NBC broadcaster.  Last week she penned a lengthy op-ed piece in response to animal rights activist group P.E.T.A. writing that the organization is “not pro-animals, and they are behaving like a bully.” Ms. Brothers dug into the numbers, such as P.E.T.A.’s high kill rate of animals in its care, and she documented the group’s legal battles over the … Continue reading Donna Takes On P.E.T.A.