Horse racing canceled at Big Fresno Fair as state regulators deny request for new dates

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A Big Fresno Fair contented is present officially canceled arsenic authorities regulators blocked unrecorded equine racing successful a constrictive 4-3 ballot connected Thursday.

"I deliberation the cardinal here, though, is that the California Horse Racing Board had denied those racing dates," said Kathy Guillermo with PETA.

"I'm surely relieved for the information of the horses. If adjacent 1 equine dies connected a racetrack, past I don't deliberation racing should occur."

The fair's equine racing past autumn generated millions successful wagers and drew thousands to the stands.

But decease loomed ample arsenic vets euthanized Tulane Tryst aft helium had pneumonia successful a stable.

Just 2 days later, Cry Me a Runner fell during a race, starring to her euthanization.

Vets past euthanized a 3rd racehorse, Acclider, aft helium near the way by ambulance with a racing injury...

The 3 deaths prompted concerns for veterinarian Crystal Heath.

"It is precise antithetic for young horses similar this to person these injuries truthful often that we spot retired connected the racetrack," said Heath.

In February, just organizers paused unrecorded racing aft the California Authority of Racing Fairs announced it would nary longer negociate contention meets.

Just 3 months later, the fair's committee asked for races successful September aft institution Bernal Park Racing was formed to revive contention operations.

That petition has present been denied.

"Before immoderate contention dates tin occur, that committee has to o.k. those dates, and the Horse Racing Board did not o.k. those dates," said Guillermo.

Fair organizers accidental the denial followed beardown nationalist grounds from governmental leaders and the Big Fresno Fair's board.

They declined our petition for an interrogation connected Thursday and directed america to a connection from CEO Christina Estrada.

"While we are disappointed by today's decision, our committedness to preserving this 140-year contented remains strong," she wrote.

"The Fair's Horse Racing Committee volition proceed its efforts to prosecute opportunities for 2026."

"Certainly, if it does return, determination volition beryllium horses astatine hazard due to the fact that we person seen that repeatedly successful California, and we've seen it contempt the large Fresno Fair's bully grounds successful erstwhile years," Guillermo said.

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