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The death of the horse Eight Belles at the Kentucky Derby last month has raised questions about the safety of horse racing. Last weekend the Associated Press released the results of a survey that found an average of three horses suffered lethal injuries each day at U.S. tracks in 2007. The AP added a footnote to their story, “Countless other deaths went unreported because of lax record keeping.” Only one of Florida’s three thoroughbred tracks provided numbers. Calder Race Course in Miami Gardens reported that 44 horses were euthanized after suffering devastating injuries on the track in 2007. There is no reason to believe that there were fewer “breakdowns” at Florida’s other thoroughbred racing tracks (Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, or Tampa Bay Downs) or at The Isle harness racing track (Pompano Beach). The true number of deaths that Florida’s horse-racing industry can take credit for is likely well over 100/year.

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