Four race horses die in opening weekend at Rillito Racetrack

[Ptah]

5. Officials: 3 more horses die at Rillito Racetrack, bringing season total up to 7

Three more horses have died at Rillito Park Racetrack over the last several weeks, bringing the total for the season's first four weeks up to seven.

And although track officials say they're taking extra precautions and pulling more horses from races this season than ever before, the Rillito deaths — plus 24 at Phoenix's Turf Paradise — have led animal rights advocates to call on officials to suspend horse racing in the state.

“Although racing can never be entirely safe for horses, simple changes could prevent countless fatal breakdowns,” Kathy Guillermo, senior vice president for the People for Ethical Treatment of Animal, said in a Friday news release.

Last month, PETA sent a letter to the Arizona Department of Gaming Division of Racing requesting racing be suspended immediately at Turf Paradise until CT scanning equipment is installed to detect pre-existing injuries.

https://tucson.com/sports/local/officials-3-more-horses-die-at-rillito-racetrack-bringing-season-total-up-to-7/article_b7b9dc2c-abb9-11ec-bb88-87075a5754b6.html