Former Santa Anita Publicist Sues Over Alleged Wrongful Termination Amid Horse Deaths Crisis

Mike Willman, the former publicity director at Santa Anita Park, has filed a lawsuit against the racetrack and its executives, claiming he was wrongfully terminated in March 2024 for refusing to lie about alleged mismanagement during a spike in horse fatalities in 2019. Willman contends that he was accused of inappropriate language as a pretext for his firing, which he believes was motivated by his loyalty to the truth regarding the horse deaths. The lawsuit alleges that Santa Anita officials pressured him to mislead the public and regulators about the causes of the fatalities, which included 37 horses dying in that year. Willman also claims age discrimination and defamation, asserting that the defendants sought to damage his reputation and hinder his future employment in the racing industry. Named defendants include Belinda Stronach and Aidan Butler, executives associated with the racetrack's ownership. Santa Anita has declined to comment on the ongoing litigation.