Leading Thoroughbred racing organizations are forming a national safety coalition in an effort to reduce horse fatalities. The effort includes a number of reforms related to medical, operational, and organizational areas. The formation of the group comes following much attention given to horse fatalies over the past year. Some three dozen horses were euthanized at Santa Anita track in California. In Kentucky, five horse fatalities occured at Keeneland during the fall meet. There were four during the spring meet.
It was a packed Keeneland library where racing leaders outlined already agreed to changes. The tracks represent more than 85% of graded stakes racing. Kathleen Anderson, past president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners envisions fewer horse deaths. “I certainly hope so. That is the goal and if it is implemented properly, I believe it will,” said Anderson.
Use of medications has been a key discussion point. The coalition favors prohibiting concurrent use of certain medications and random out-of-competition testing on horses. Veteran Equine Vet William Farmer. “Therapeutic medication is a necessary part of health for all horses, humans, and our beloved pets. However, in the racing environment, we must make sure that these medications are not misused or overused, intentionally or otherwise,” noted Farmer.
The coalition includes representatives from the Breeders Cup, Keeneland, and Churchill Downs. A number of reforms were unveiled Tuesday at the news conference. Churchill Downs President Kevin Flanery talked about adopting “voided claim” rules. “In our sport, there are claiming races in which an individual can claim, purchase a horse before a race. We want to ensure that, if a claim is put in, that a horse runs in a claiming race and comes out of that race with any injury or lameness, that that claim can be voided. That ensures that the original owner of the horse has every incentive to ensure that that horse is sound when it races on the track,” explained Flanery.
The list of changes also includes collecting and storing track data and creating a safety steward position in all jurisdictions. Keeneland President Bill Thomason said it’s important to be clear about changes. “Instead of just having terminology that people can’t understand, we’ve got to put our reforms and initiatives in the form that the public can understand,” noted Thomason.
Track leaders emphasized this is the beginning with an opportunity to take input from a number of groups including jockey and horseman organizations.
Weku's Stu Johnson spoke with Mick Peterson, who heads two racing surface labs in Lexington, following the formal news conference Tuesday:
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