Santa Anita Park officials have announced they will provide round-the-clock surveillance of all horses entered in the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) beginning 72 hours before the April 5 race.
The security measure, designed to safeguard the health and welfare of horses and riders, will be similar to that provided for the 2013 Derby and for the 2013 Breeders' Cup in Arcadia.
The California Horse Racing Board will also have an increased security presence on the backside of Santa Anita for Derby Day. In addition to the usual CHRB enforcement personnel at Santa Anita, additional investigators and safety stewards are being brought in from Sacramento and Los Alamitos.
The added CHRB staffing will augment Santa Anita's stakes race security, allowing for broad stable area coverage for the Derby program, which also includes the Santa Anita Oaks (gr. I) and three other stakes on an 11-race card.
The CHRB also plans to conduct out-of-competition testing for those horses nominated to the Santa Anita Derby, Santa Anita Oaks, and Providencia Stakes (gr. IIIT). These efforts are part of an expanded program providing out-of-competition testing for graded stakes races.
Funding for the testing is made possible through a grant provided by The Jockey Club to The Stronach Group's Santa Anita track. The program will continue for graded stakes at Santa Anita through the remainder of the year.
