This moratorium, if successful, would effectively ban horse racing at Santa Anita and other California tracks pending a formal investigation of racing conditions. The fans of EZ Horse Betting that like to bet horses online in California should be aware of the situation and how it will affect them. Here’s what we know.
Troubles at Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park is one of the oldest horse racing venues in California. It hosts one of the prestigious horse race meetings each year. Among the highlights of the racing calendar is the Santa Anita Handicap, once won by the legendary Seabiscuit. Every year racing fans bet millions of dollars online and at the track’s live betting windows.
Unfortunately, the current race meet at Santa Anita has been marred by a whopping 29 equine deaths since December 2018. This number far exceeds the normal expectations for horse breakdowns during a race meet.
Horse racing is a dangerous and risky sport for all involved, the horses included. After the 22nd horse lost its life as a result of racing at Santa Anita, the race track decided to take action. In March Santa Anita banned the use of race day medications that are permitted for horses, and it also prohibited the use of a whip in races. Track officials are investigating whether or not the use of whips and medications could be abused to make horses will ailments compete.
Meanwhile, the death toll has continued to rise at Santa Anita. As of this writing there have been 29 fatal breakdowns. Horsemen and the racing officials at Santa Anita have been advised to cancel horse racing for the remainder of the meet, but so far they have resisted this measure. This has prompted Governor Newsom to get involved.
Governor Wants to Stop California Horse Racing
According to the New York Times, Governor Gavin Newsom has asked the California Horse Racing Board to suspend racing at Santa Anita Park until all horses can be examined by a veterinarian. The governor states that he wants to make sure some horses in poor physical health are not being compelled to compete.
The California Horse Racing Board has itself went a step farther. It has publicly called on Santa Anita to cancel the remaining days of the meet. The Stronach Group, which owns Santa Anita Park and other major racing venues like Gulfstream Park, has refused to agree to the racing board’s request. The Stronach Group claims that it is working diligently to solve the problem without suspending horse racing in California.
Now, the track may be having its hand forced. If California lawmakers side with Governor Newsom in the fracas, sweeping changes could be coming for California horse racing. It is even possible that those who bet horses online in California will find themselves without an option.
EZ Horse Betting and California Horse Racing
If you are one of the readers of EZ Horse Betting that likes to watch and wager on California horse racing at an online racebook, what does this mean for you? If the moratorium proceeds, you would no longer be able to make bets on races in California. Racing would cease until the required medical examinations could be conducted.
Online racebooks like Bovada would be forced to remove Santa Anita racing from their offerings. There would be no live feed of the race track and no wagers would be accepted. If you currently bet on California horse racing tracks we would advise you to begin seeking out other tracks to bet while the problem is resolved.
One replacement that you might want to consider is Australian horse racing. We have many articles on the subject that are designed to help you with your handicapping in Australia. The land Down Under has one of the most vibrant racing communities in the world today. There is racing to be found every day except for Christmas.
It is also true that horse racing in Australia has many stakes events for bettors to take advantage of. This means more competitive racing and the possibility of larger payouts for the bettor. Best of all, you do not need a separate online racebook account to take advantage of betting. You can use the same one that you were using to wager at Santa Anita. See our Bovada racebook review, Twinspires review or even our Betamerica review. All great choice if you are in the US. 5Dimes review for folks anywhere!
