NYRA WTF

16 Dead NY Thoroughbreds

Animal Rights – 16 thoroughbred horses have been put down due to injury since November, when the Aqueduct at the Resorts World Casino in Queens opened its inner track. The New York Racing Association (NYRA) denies that the dirt used on the track is dangerous for the horses, but others disagree. Now, the Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, has publicly disagreed with their position via a letter reprinted in the New York Daily News.

“The State and NYRA need to develop best in class procedures to insure against needless injuries to horses and to riders. By this letter, we are advising NYRA to hire a qualified independent investigator or team of investigators to review the circumstances involving these breakdowns, analyze the causes, and recommend any necessary action to (limit) equine breakdowns at NYRA facilities,” Cuomo stated in a letter to NYRA President Charles Hayward. He went on to say that while there are accidents associated with racing “but that cannot be an excuse for our inaction.”

So far the NYRA has announced suspending the inner track and only using the main track. Of note is the cancellation of the HBO series Luck starring Dustin Hoffman which was being filmed at the Aqueduct track. HBO defended itself by saying, “We maintained the highest safety standards throughout production, higher in fact than any protocols existing in horse-racing anywhere.” As a result of the deaths, the network has cancelled the program.

Governor Cuomo feels the Aqueduct should pay for its own investigation, as it has made $15 million in profits since opening in October.

Read more at the Huffington Post.