Animal cruelty probed at Calder

The Miami Gardens, Fla., police are investigating an incident in the last week in which a female Thoroughbred racehorse was said to have been sexually molested in the barn area at Calder Race Course.

Capt. Ralph Suarez, who heads the investigative unit assigned to the case, declined to identify either the horse involved or her trainer on Friday.

"A horse was molested. Evidence has been collected, and we're hopeful an arrest will be made," Suarez said. "Because the investigation is ongoing, we cannot release any of the names involved with the case."

Suarez said that if an arrest is made, the charge would be cruelty to animals, a felony.

Calder officials declined to comment beyond saying they were cooperating with the investigation of a single incident that occurred in the stable area.