Special feature

Track tragedy Looking back at Eight Belles' race, tragic demise at the Kentucky Derby.

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By Sporting News staff reports

updated 1:54 p.m. ET June 12, 2008

After investigating steroids in baseball and looking into the NFL's Spygate controversy, members of Congress now are holding a hearing about horse racing, the Baltimore Sun reports.

A congressional subcommittee has scheduled a hearing for next Thursday to look at safety standards for thoroughbred horses, three officials told the newspaper.

In the wake of Eight Belles being euthanized at the Kentucky Derby, the subcommittee members want answers about how many horses are breaking down at tracks and why. Questions will be asked about breeding, drugs and other issues. The session hasn't yet been officially announced.

The subcommittee is part of the House Energy and Commerce committee. The panel has requested information from Magna Entertainment, Pimlico Race Course and others, the Sun reports. In May, the subcommittee asked Magna how many horses have suffered injuries on Magna-owned tracks and whether the company would support creating a database to compile track-related thoroughbred injuries.

Bill Ford, an attorney for Magna, said the company sent its responses to Washington and offered to testify at the hearing.

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