NYCLASS STATEMENT ON UNJUSTIFYABLE HORSE RACING INDUSTRY FAILURE

New York, NY – Following news that 2018 Triple Crown winning horse, Justify, failed a drug test prior to competing in the Kentucky Derby, NYCLASS Executive Director Edita Birnkrant released the following statement:

“Today’s news is as disturbing as it is unsurprising. After testing positive for scopolamine – a rightfully illegal substance used by owners and trainers to “enhance” their horse’s performance – Justify should have been disqualified by the California Horse Racing Board’s own rules.

He should have never seen the track. Either the California Horse Racing Board cruelly neglected their responsibility to Justify’s health and wellbeing, or they knowingly and corruptly dragged their feet in investigating this matter for the benefit of his owners.

Sadly, this failure isn’t an isolated incident. Abuse runs rampant in the multi-billion-dollar American horse racing industry. In 2018 alone, nearly 10 horses died at American horse race tracks every week caused by forced substance abuse, brutal training regiments, and inadequate care. The industry needs to stop willfully enabling horse abuse, and we need to hold them accountable.”

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New Yorkers for Clean, Livable, and Safe Streets (NYCLASS) was founded in 2008 with the core mission of saving NYC carriage horses, enacting animal rights legislation into law, and electing pro-animal candidates to office. NYCLASS is committed to fighting for all animals by working on New York City and State legislation and embracing grassroots efforts to educate and activate the public.