Statement on Racehorse Drowning at MGM Northfield Park

 Statement on Racehorse Drowning at MGM Northfield Park

This message was identified as junk. We'll delete it after 10 days. It's not junk | Show blocked content

This message was identified as junk. We'll delete it after 10 days.

MI

Marty Irby <marty@animalwellnessaction.org>

To:

• You

Tue 7/12/2022 1:11 PM

 

Hi David: 

 

Hope all is well with you this afternoon. I wanted to provide you with our statement on the harness racing catastrophe that occurred at MGM Northfield Park in Ohio late yesterday where a horse "ended up going into the infield pond and drowned," according to Harnesslink.com. The horse "Alfred Hanover," was allegedly trained by Ron Burke who was inducted in the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame last month.

 

Animal Wellness Action has been leading the charge to end these type deaths in American horse racing and I testified before the U.S. Congress in 2020 in support of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act that was signed into law in 2020 with implementation delayed until last Friday. Here are my latest op-eds on the subject published last month by NBC News national, and the Baltimore Post-Examiner.

 

Just this week we launched our new watchdog site www.HISAWatchDog.org, and hope you'll check it out as well. 

 

Here's our statement on the MGM Northfield incident and death of "Alfred Hanover" that can be attributed to Marty Irby as executive director at Animal Wellness Action:

 

"We are saddened to see yet another racehorse death in the world of harness racing and call on the U.S. Trotting Association and its members to join in supporting the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act that took effect last week by opting into the anti-doping program, and oversight under the new national standards.

 

"As the body count continues to climb, these rampant deaths continue to turn the betting public away from the horse racing industry. Where else would we tolerate any athlete drowning during a sporting event without a serious investigation? The authorities should investigate this incident." 

 

While the new law applies only to Thoroughbred racing at this time, provisions allow for the harness racing industry to opt-in to the program, but the U.S. Trotting Association has worked to undermine and oppose the new law at every turn. 

 

I’m glad to answer any questions you may have. Would you be up for a story on this or if I missed one you’ve already published would you be willing to add our statement?

 

Really appreciate your consideration as always.

 

All the best, 

 

Marty Irby 

Executive Director

Animal Wellness Action

611 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E. #136

Washington, D.C. 20003