California Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday signed a bill into law that clears the way for state horse racing regulators to suspend the license of Santa Anita Park after the deaths of 30 horses at that historic but troubled track.
The bill signed by Newsom was authored by Napa's Democratic state Senator Bill Dodd and will give the California Horse Racing Board the authority to immediately suspend racing licenses if it's deemed necessary to protect the health and safety of horses and jockeys.
There's no doubt the bill targets Santa Anita Park. Even though the current racing season has come to and end at that track, a string of horse deaths there has prompted an outcry for change.
The California Horse Racing Board chairman will decide when and if to call an emergency meeting of the board to suspend Santa Anita Park's license, according to California Horse Racing Board spokesman Mike Martin.