Delta Down horse incident prompts advocate commentary

A calamitous fall during a horseracing event at Delta Downs on June 3 has prompted commentary from Animal Wellness Action group leader Marty Irby. The incident, which occurred during Race 5 of the June 3 lineup, resulted with horse “Tf Fortunate One” “fell, lost rider,” and was “vanned off,” according to Equibase.com.

In most all cases where the horse is “vanned off,” Irby explained, the horse is dead due to the crash itself or having to be put down due to a broken leg and other injuries.

“We continue to see crash after crash and death after death at horse tracks all across America and Delta Downs is no exception,” Irby said. “We look forward to the implementation of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, the new federal law that takes effect July 1 of this year, and believe that if implemented properly, it can prevent many of these ghastly catastrophes.”