Two separate research-based sites in Lexington are working to increase race track safety. One group is a non-profit independent research group, Racing Surface Testing Lab located in downtown Lexington.
A recent horse fatality occurred at the Santa Anita training track. Mick Peterson oversees the lab. He noted he was surprised at this death since the training track had been relatively safe over the last year. “We’ll work with the superintendent Dennis Moore at Santa Anita to provide a full set of information about the condition of the training track at the time of the fatality and prior to that when we did our testing,” said Peterson.
Peterson said that information will go to the equine medical director who will examine all the factors.
Over the past year an unusually high number of horses had to be put down following incidents on the main track at Santa Anita.
As University of Kentucky Agriculture Equine Programs Director, Peterson is also involved in research at the new Equine Surfaces and Safety lab on campus. Peterson said some tools for gauging track conditions are being studied at the relatively new lab at UK. “Those tools are going to get some on-site testing at Santa Anita prior to Breeder’s Cup, so there’s a truck leaving this weekend that’s going to haul some of the equipment out to Santa Anita to be tested before Breeder’s Cup,” explained Peterson.
Peterson says weather-related moisture continues to be a primary issue when it comes to track safety concerns.
Here's Weku's Stu Johnson's extended interview with Mick Peterson:
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