Bob Baffert among demonstrators calling for racing to resume at Santa Anita

Top US trainers Bob Baffert and Doug O'Neill were among demonstrators who rallied in front of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, urging for a resumption of behind-closed-doors racing in California.

Racing has been on hold at Santa Anita Park since March 27, deemed a non-essential business during the Covid-19 pandemic by order of the Los Angeles County Health Department. Racing was also suspended at Golden Gate Fields on April 2 by its health department.

The only track racing in California is Los Alamitos, where a mixed meet of thoroughbreds and quarter horses is permitted. The other tracks can only conduct training.

The rally on Tuesday was a follow-up action to the submission of hundreds of emails from horseracing supporters to the board, said organiser Oscar de la Torre, a regular advocate for backstretch workers. The names of those who contacted the board were then announced before various agenda items during their teleconference, which covered a wide range of topics affecting the county.

De la Torre was encouraged by the board's passage of agenda item 20, 'Los Angeles County roadmap to economic recovery', which outlined a multi-phased approach for reopening businesses.

De la Torre and others in the industry, including the Stronach Group, have voiced their concern over the financial and social costs of the shutdown, which affects thousands of horseracing workers across the state including more than 750 who work on the Santa Anita backstretch.

"We're hopeful that live racing will resume at Santa Anita as part of the county's phase-one economic recovery plan," said De la Torre in an interview after the demonstration.

De la Torre called the Tuesday rally a success, estimating more than 50 demonstrators attended.

Baffert cancelled a scheduled media teleconference appearance with the National Thoroughbred Racing Association to attend the rally with his wife Jill. They both wore masks and gloves to comply with safety recommendations.

"There are millions of people and families that are suffering right now. We don't need any more suffering unnecessarily," Baffert said. "We're doing everything right. We've been safe at Santa Anita. We've been Covid-19 free. The protocols are working there."

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