The owners of Santa Anita Park are supporting a proposed bill in Congress that would outlaw the slaughter of horses for human consumption, and are asking others in the horse-racing industry to do the same, they said Thursday.
The Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act, or H.R.1661/S.755, would permanently prohibit the slaughter of horses and mules for human consumption. Specifically, the bill prohibits a person from knowingly slaughtering an equine for human consumption, or shipping, transporting, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donating an equine to be slaughtered for human consumption or equine parts for human consumption.
Current law prohibits the slaughter of dogs and cats for human consumption. This bill, which subjects violators to a fine, would extend the prohibition to equines.
1/ST Racing, a division of The Stronach Group, which owns Santa Anita and other racetracks around the United States, sent a letter Thursday addressed to “Members of the racing community” encouraging broader industry action on equine welfare.
“In an industry that does not always speak with one voice, there should be one clear point of agreement: We are judged by how we care for our horses. Without a firm commitment to equine welfare, our sport cannot sustain its future. We owe them safety, dignity, and lifelong care,” the letter states.
“… This is a pivotal moment for our industry. It calls for action, not silence. Inaction will be noticed and judged. The decisions we make now will define both our future and our credibility. For this reason, 1/ST supports the passage of H.R.1661/S.755,” the letter continues. “This legislation would permanently prohibit domestic horse slaughter and the export of horses for human consumption.
“While slaughter facilities no longer operate in the United States, the pipeline continues through export. In 2025, more than 25,000 U.S. horses were shipped to foreign slaughter plants, a sharp increase from the previous year. The SAFE Act would close this loophole and establish permanent federal protection.
“Many of us work to identify and help horses at risk, particularly those we recognize. But the reality is that most horses in this pipeline no longer have an identity that connects them back to our sport. The question is not how many we can save, but how many we never see.
“Public expectations around animal welfare have shifted and will continue to do so. Industries that fail to respond face consequences. Racing should not assume it will be treated differently or given more time.”
The bill was introduced by Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., who co-chairs the Animal Protection Caucus in Congress. It’s currently in the House Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.
“Protecting America’s horses from slaughter is a commonsense, bipartisan priority that reflects our values as a nation,” Buchanan said earlier this month. “We are building strong momentum in Congress and working alongside advocates across the country to finally end this inhumane practice. I will keep pushing to get the SAFE Act signed into law.”
Martha Sullivan of Kill Racing Not Horses, a group that advocates for the ban of horse racing, told City News Service that the proposed law doesn’t go far enough.
“It is inexcusable that the SAFE Act has failed to pass for so many years. It is important to note that slaughter (and shipping to slaughter outside of the U.S.) of horses for uses other than human consumption, including pet food and fertilizer (e.g., bone meal), would still be permitted, and the language of the SAFE Act should be tightened up to ban slaughter and shipment to slaughter of horses for any use,” she said.