The Thoroughbred Safety Coalition is working with state racing commissions to implement fresh medication rules for horses required to complete high-speed training. This is just one of several reforms that the organization is advocating for leading racetracks and industry associations.
The Thoroughbred Safety Coalition announced Oct. 22 the addition of eight medical and operational reforms to its platform to ensure equine and human athletes compete in the safest and most crystal clear conditions possible. The Coalition Steering Committee, made up of executives from Breeders' Cup, Churchill Downs Inc., sea, Keenelandthe Up-to-date York Racing Association and the Stronach Group voted unanimously to adopt the reforms with the ultimate goal of uniform implementation across all racing territories.
According to a statement from the group, the coalition also recently participated in the drafting of and continues to fully support the passage of the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Act, which would codify a standard set of rules and protocols to make racing safer and more crystal clear across the state make racing dishes. In addition to national legislation, the Coalition believes work to advance these reforms must continue at the state level.
“As today’s announcement and recent progress make clear, the Coalition’s vital work to ensure the well-being of our athletes continues despite the challenging circumstances our industry and our country have faced this year,” said Donna Brothers, Strategic Coalition advisor. “The fresh reforms will go a long way towards improving our collective ability to identify horses at risk before they enter a racecourse and protecting the integrity of our sport.”
Donna Brothers, strategic advisor for the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition
Sign in Blood horse Daily
In addition to advocating for fresh regulation of medications for horses about to give birth, the coalition also added the following reforms platform:
• Strengthening participation and admission requirements;
• Prohibit the administration of external treatments, therapies and musculoskeletal manipulations within at least 24 hours of a race;
• Work with state racing commissions to implement a ban on clenbuterol in racing and training.
• Tightening requirements for removing horses from the veterinary list;
• Introducing an option to claim waivers for horses that have had an extended break;
• call for the implementation of an emergency track warning system;
• Modify entry and exit gaps on tracks to escalate horse and rider safety.
“The industry must be fully committed to the safety and welfare of horses in racing and training, and this includes racing organisations,” said Dr. Dionne Benson, senior veterinarian at The Stronach Group. “These additional reforms codify the measures many racecourses have already taken to best protect our horses.”
“The ability to work regularly with my colleagues and colleagues at other coalition levels has allowed us to share best practices and build on each other’s experiences and insights related to Thoroughbred safety, which is evident in the reforms announced today,” said Keeneland's director of horse safety, Stuart Brown. “This level of collaboration ensures that the unified security reforms the coalition advocates for are proven and effective solutions.”
Horses run to the main gap during morning training at Belmont Park
“The safety of our athletes must be our top priority and establishing consistent rules and standards strengthens our commitment to the welfare of our horses,” said Dr. Will Farmer, equine medical director at CDI. “As our respective organizations work to implement the coalition reform platform or apply house rules as appropriate, the collective safety culture in our industry continues to grow.”
The coalition's advisory committee members—the American Association of Equine Practitioners, the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, and the Thoroughbred Owners of California—as well as industry supporting members Dixiana Farm and Mt. Brilliant Farm, Stonestreet Farm and the University of Kentucky – supported the development of the reforms and will continue to be instrumental in the coalition's efforts to advocate for regulatory adoption level.
