FRESNO, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – A third racehorse is dead at the Big Fresno Fair in less than a month.
This is the second horse to suffer from a race-related injury that has to be euthanized.
Fresno City Councilmember Tyler Maxwell took to social media this weekend asking the fair to halt racing until the issue is properly addressed.
However, the fair continued with its two final races on Monday.
“Unfortunately, it’s not unusual that in the world of horse racing, a horse will sometimes pass away because of illness or an injury,” said Maxwell.
The number six horse, Acclider, who was in race seven on Friday, pulled up with an injury on his final turn and was taken off the track.
“What is unusual is that you would have three horses be put down in the matter of about three and a half weeks,” said Maxwell.
Larry Swartzlander, executive director of the California Authority of Racing Fairs and Racing Director at the Big Fresno Fair, sent a statement in which he said “This is only the second racing-related injury that resulted in a horse death on the Fresno track in 12 years. This unfortunate, rare accident occurred despite extensive veterinary oversight and examinations of the horses, as well as a thorough maintenance and inspection of the racetrack.”