Despite currently being suspended by the California Horse Racing Board at the request of Governor Gavin Newsom, the Breeders Cup Chairman Fred Hertrich says his organization still plans to hold its annual event at the iconic Southern California racetrack. The Breeders Cup will be held November 1-2.
The racetrack suspended operations two weeks ago after a 29th horse died since December 26. The track was unable to run the last seven days of racing remaining on its calendar.
Although Hertrich was firm that no decision has been made to withdraw from Santa Anita, it is largely accepted that for a horse to die during the Breeders Cup run would create a public relations problem of epic proportions and focus the wrath of animal rights activists who already want to shut down the sport nationally.
Hertrich told reporters, “We are evaluating the situation. As of right now the Breeders’ Cup is going to be run at Santa Anita. There’s no change.” He added, “We don’t make knee-jerk decisions.”
He conceded that the entire industry is under the microscope over this issue. “Like anything else, it will be discussed. It’s not that cut and dried because we are in uncharted waters because, normally, major events just don’t change venues.”
He added that it would be up to the Breeders Cup board to make such a change and that the board won’t meet for two weeks. Until then, he said, “It is business as usual.”
