Feed shortage threatening Venezuelan racing

www.thoroughbredtimes.com Posted: 1/10/2003 9:41:00 PM ET

Thoroughbreds from Venezuela?s most important tracks are suffering a serious shortage of feed, which is jeopardizing the continuity of racing, following 38 days of social crisis and general strikes against President Hugo Chavez.

La Rinconada racecourse in Caracas, as well as Valencia and Santa Rita in Maracaibo, three of Venezuela?s most important racecourses and training centers, may be force to cancel racing if conditions do not improve shortly.

Many trainers are complaining they are not receiving their daily feed supplies, which could lead to the suspension of racing.

"There is no food to feed the horses; many trainers have canceled their regular gallops and a definitive [suspension of racing] is very possible unless the food arrrives shortly," said La Rinconada’s 2001 leading trainer Francisco D’Angelo whose stable has reached the state of emergency.—Michael Burns and Diego Mitagstein