Despite Horse Deaths, Breeders' Cup To Be Held At Santa Anita

ARCADIA (CBSLA) — Despite concerns over the recent spate of horse deaths at Santa Anita racetrack, organizers of the 2019 Breeders' Cup World Championships affirmed today their commitment to hold the November event in Arcadia.

Though there had been some speculation the event might be moved in light of the 30 horse deaths since December at the track -- 66 deaths dating back through the 2018 racing season -- the board of directors of Breeders' Cup Limited made the decision unanimously during a meeting held in Lexington, Kentucky.

This will be the tenth time Santa Anita has hosted the race, the most of any other track.

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"Foremost among the core values of the Breeders' Cup are the safety and integrity of the competition and we hold ourselves, our host sites and our competitors to the highest standards of both," Craig Fravel, president and CEO of the Breeders' Cup, said in a statement. "It is clear that meaningful and effective reforms and best practices have been implemented in recent months at
Santa Anita through the collective efforts of (track owners) The Stronach Group, the Thoroughbred Owners of California, the California Thoroughbred Trainers and the California Horse Racing Board.

"We fully embrace those reforms and will devote our time and energy in the coming months to further advance those efforts. We look forward to showing the world the best in thoroughbred racing at one of its finest venues," Fravel said.

Belinda Stronach, chair and president of The Stronach Group, issued a statement thanking the Breeders' Cup board for its support.

"Santa Anita and the Stronach Group remain steadfast in our commitment to put the health and safety of the horses and riders above all else and we are pleased that the Breeders' Cup board recognized and shares in that goal," she said.

(© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. City News Service contributed to this report.)