The California District Attorney issues a report finding no evidence of misconduct at Santa Anita Park. Prosecutors issued the report from a special task force looking into the deaths of racehorses at the track this season and have concluded there was no evidence of unlawful conduct or criminal animal cruelty and included a list of 27 best practices.
The Stronach Group released the following statement regarding the report:
We thank District Attorney Lacey’s Office for their diligent work in this robust investigation into whether any conduct or conditions at Santa Anita Park affected the welfare of safety and horses. We are all committed to the same thing–the highest level of equine safety and welfare–and we will continue to do everything possible to promote equine and rider health and safety. And we are gratified that the District Attorney’s report into the conduct and conditions at Santa Anita Park found no evidence of misconduct.
The Stronach Group looks forward to working further with the California Horse Racing Board, industry partners, and other stakeholders to implement recommendations from the taskforce’s report, many of which Santa Anita Park has already started implementing.
The Los Angeles Times is one of several mainstream publications and media outlets to report on the findings:
By JOHN CHERWA
The California horse racing industry at Santa Anita Park, reeling from a series of equine deaths and threats from state and national officials, was cleared of any criminal wrongdoing Thursday by the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.
After a nine-month investigation, a special task force that looked into 30 deaths at Santa Anita during this year’s winter/spring meeting issued a 17-page report that “did not find evidence of criminal animal cruelty or unlawful conduct.”
The report did offer 27 recommendations for safety improvements, most of which have already been acted upon or were also recommended by the California Horse Racing Board.
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