Horse euthanasia raises question about St. Croix races – Virgin Islands Daily News

A horse seriously injured in a May 28 race at Randall Doc James Racetrack on St. Croix was not euthanized until the following morning, people familiar with the animals death said.

About seven heats were held at the racetrack on Sunday, said Tony Felix Sr., president of the Flamboyant Park Horsemen Association. In all, two horses were injured. The other injured horse was not euthanized, Felix said.

V.I. Director of Veterinary Services Bethany Bradford said she was called in Monday to euthanize the other horse, more than 20 hours after the injury. While V.I. horse racing statutes dont currently require a veterinarian to be present for races, ethical norms and industry best practices generally dictate that an equine veterinarian a veterinarian with experience or familiarity with horses be present.

Asked whether a horse race without a veterinarian was legal, Bradford hesitated.

Thats a really loaded question, she said. The racing commission is the one who organizes the race. Then the promoter plays a role.

Delays in euthanasia for horses injured at race tracks arent necessarily evidence that a veterinarian wasnt present, territorial veterinarians said. Sometimes a delay can result while veterinarians examine whether euthanizing the horse is necessary, since the extent of the animals injuries isnt always immediately apparent.

Bradford suggested animal cruelty statutes could apply to situations where horses werent euthanized in a timely fashion. V.I. Code Title 14 Chapter 7 describes the various crimes related to plants and animals. Section 183, first-degree animal neglect, includes allowing an animal, including one who is aged, diseased, maimed, hopelessly sick, disabled, or nonambulatory to suffer torture or unnecessary neglect or pain.

The penalty on conviction is a fine of up to $3,000 and 500 hours of community service. Courts may also require animal counseling upon a conviction, according to the statute.

However, it wasnt clear from the statutes whether the horses owner, the promoter, or the horse-racing commission would ultimately be liable, Bradford said.

Its a gray area, she said.

While veterinary ethics require a horse doctor be present for races, nothing in the territorial Code currently requires it.

Horse racing statutes could be heavily revised in the coming months. A package of legislative changes related to anti-doping statutes, and legally requiring the presence of a licensed veterinarian prior to the start of any race, is currently working its way through the Legislature. Gov. Kenneth Mapp called a special session of the legislature on May 10, and included horseracing reform among the bills he wanted addressed. Senators ultimately referred the bills to committee.

Bradford primarily manages infection monitoring and control for livestock and other large animals, which can extend to horses in an agricultural setting. Territorial veterinarians have sometimes overseen the races veterinarians generally participate in the saddling of the horses and monitor the horses placement in the gates as a precaution, in addition to euthanasia but Bradford said she no longer oversees the races because she cant spare the time.

Laura Palminteri is another veterinarian who works with horses, and splits her time between St. Thomas, St. John and the British Virgin Islands. She said no equine veterinarians currently practice on St. Croix.

She says shes sometimes called in to practice on St. Thomas, though she isnt always available because she travels among multiple islands.

There is a shortage of equine veterinarians in the territory, Palminteri said.

Part of the reason is economic, Palminteri said. The territory doesnt have enough horses to support a full-time horse doctor, meaning anyone who comes in must also take up small animal or exotic pet practice to make a living, or be subsidized by the government, or maintain a separate full-time job.

Theres not enough work for a full-time equine veterinarian, she said.

Races were also held at the Clinton E. Phipps Racetrack on St. Thomas on May 28, said Clinton Hedrington Jr, president of the St. Thomas-St. John Horsemens Association. For the Phipps racetrack, the formula is clear, Hedrington said.

Our commission is very strict about the vets, he said. If there isnt a vet, we dont run.

At the St. Thomas track, the veterinarian present is generally Jane Reynolds, owner of the Veterinary Centers of the V.I., Hedrington said. The Association generally checks seven to 10 days before any race to see if shes available. When local veterinarians arent available, theyll sometimes fly a vet in from Puerto Rico, Hedrington said. The local veterinary board grants a vet certified in another state a one-day licensure.

Felixs attitude was a little more cavalier. The James racetrack has generally had a veterinarian present, apart from the May 28 race, Felix said.

That one is rough, he said. Weve always had a vet on the track.

Felix directed questions about why the races were allowed to continue anyway to Wayne Biggs Jr., the current chairman of the St. Croix Horseracing Commission.

Biggs did not return a phone call to his cell phone Friday afternoon.

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Horse euthanasia raises question about St. Croix races - Virgin Islands Daily News