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Feinstein joins call for Santa Anita to suspend racing

A total of 29 horses have now died since the track opened for the season in December. The current meet is scheduled to end June 23.

Credit: AP

FILE - In this Oct. 30, 2013 file photo, an exercise rider takes a horse for a workout at Santa Anita Park with palm trees and the San Gabriel Mountains as a backdrop in Arcadia, Calif. A person with direct knowledge of the situation says a 21st horse has died at Santa Anita. The person spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity Tuesday, March 5, 2019, because the fatality has not been announced publicly. A total of 21 horses have died since the race track's winter meet began on Dec. 26. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) - U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein has joined the California Horse Racing Board in calling for Santa Anita to immediately suspend the remainder of its meet after the deaths of two more horses last weekend.

A total of 29 horses have now died since the track opened for the season in December. The current meet is scheduled to end June 23.

The California Democrat said Monday that "something is seriously wrong," whether it's the track surface or problems involving training or medication. She said no one seems to know, yet training and racing continues.

Santa Anita has enacted a series of reforms aimed at improving safety but despite its efforts the deaths have continued.