Through his job in trainer Doug O'Neill's barn, Dagoberto Lopez puts his two children through college. He has cared for horses such as the two-time Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Goldencents during his 35 years on the race track.
Lopez was one of several backstretch workers who spoke at a meeting at Clockers' Corner on June 20 Santa Anita Park Hundreds of workers gathered to raise awareness of the importance of their jobs and the horse racing industry in California. They fear that after this year's horse accidents at Santa Anita, animal rights activists may succeed in their efforts to shut down the track and perhaps even horse racing in California.
“I’m worried about Santa Anita closing,” Lopez said in Spanish. “Where do we go when Santa Anita closes?” I love my job. The horses I work with are very smart. I feel like the horses I care for are like my family. I take care of them as if they were my children.”
Many local television stations, both English and Spanish speaking, covered the gathering. Oscar de la Torre, whose family has worked at Hollywood Park in the past, organized the program after speaking with O'Neill.
“I was lucky enough to meet Oscar about a month ago,” O’Neill said. “We were talking about horse racing and he was shocked to read all the negativity. It's so frigid and emotional to see all the workers and their families out here trying to just have a voice. They had no voice.” “
Sign in Blood horse Daily
Horse racing industry employees at a rally June 20 at Santa Anita Park
Many workers brought signs to Clockers' Corner, most in English but some in Spanish. Sentiments included: “The horses are part of our family. We need each other!!!” “Jobs in Santa Anita facilitate the economy.” “77,000 jobs in California.”
De la Torre thanked the media for coming and explained that the workers had gathered “to tell a different story, an vital story that we should understand regarding the horse racing industry in the state of California, an industry that has great opportunity He added that Backstretch employees fully support the horse safety measures Santa Anita has implemented.
“These people love horses and do everything they can to take care of the horses,” de la Torre said.
Several Backstretch employees spoke during the meeting, including coaches and staff. One of Lopez's sons, Jairo, spoke about how working for O'Neill at the track helped him become the person he is today: a student at Cal State Long Beach.
“I was around horses before I could walk,” Jairo said. “I grew up here at the racetrack because my father was always here. This job has made me a responsible person who always does his best.”
Jairo spoke in both English and Spanish, while de la Torre translated for the elder Lopez and for coach Jorge Periban. Periban spoke about his 36 years at Santa Anita.
“This job is my passion,” Periban said. “This career has allowed me to advance my family, like many of the families you see here today. We all depend on this career choice and this job. There are thousands of people who would be affected by this if Santa Anita were to close.”
Horse racing industry employees at a rally June 20 at Santa Anita Park
The Stronach Group, owner of Santa Anita Park, issued a statement in support of the workers.
“Backstretch employees are the backbone of the racing industry and have been a willing partner in implementing the reforms we proposed at Santa Anita Park and implemented by the California Horse Racing Board during this meeting,” the statement said. “The support of these Backstretch employees is a testament to the industry’s commitment to modernizing our sport. We look forward to working with the hundreds of Backstretch employees at Santa Anita Park as we continue to advance the industry and educate Californians about the impact of this. “Horse racing is the state’s business.”
Periban also pointed out the huge number of backstretch workers who live at the track, not only to care for the horses but also because of the high cost of housing in California.
“Many of the families would become homeless if Santa Anita closed and their housing would be taken away,” Periban said.
De la Torre spoke about the homeless crisis in the greater Los Angeles area, citing figures of 59,000 people who are currently homeless. He said 77,000 jobs are created directly by racing in California and 115,000 jobs are created indirectly.
Leandro Mora, O'Neill's main assistant, also spoke. Like Lopez, he takes two children to school.
“It all comes from the track thanks to these pretty animals,” Mora said. “We don’t like to lose a single animal. We love them all – they are our children.”
