Additional Equine Safety Measures Implemented at Saratoga

Sarah K. Andrew photo

The New York State Gaming Commission, The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA) have implemented additional equine health and safety policies at Saratoga Race Course, it was announced Monday afternoon. The measures include increased regulatory veterinary presence at the track, state-of-the-art monitoring of horses and a comprehensive trainer education policy. The measures will share scientific findings of research into the types of injuries that occur at New York Thoroughbred racetracks, while highlighting risk and protective factors that can help to prevent injury.

“Our goal is to reduce the number of racehorse deaths and injuries to zero, and we have taken many productive steps toward reaching that goal over the past four years,” said New York State Equine Medical Director Scott E. Palmer, VMD, highlighting the importance of examining anything from track surfaces to the past performances of horses. “However, our work is never done and there will always be challenges that require reexamination and recalibration to effectively protect horses and their riders.”

The Commission has stationed an additional regulatory veterinarian on the grounds of Saratoga Race Course during training hours, while regulatory vets will utilize reports provided by The Jockey Club's InCompass Solutions software to examine horses considered to be an increased risk for injury. According to New York's Equine Death and Breakdown database, there have been 15 equine fatalities on the grounds at Saratoga since the beginning of the meet July 21.

“There is no issue more important to NYRA than the safety of our equine and human athletes,” said NYRA Safety Steward Hugh Gallagher. “That is why NYRA has implemented extensive reforms and made significant investments since 2013 to improve track surface conditions, upgrade equipment, provide vets with more authority to monitor thoroughbred health, establish committees to oversee safety measures, and actively seek out advice and guidance from independent experts and scientists. As a result of these reforms, the number of catastrophic injuries during races occurring on NYRA tracks has been reduced by nearly 50% since 2013.”

Addressing potential safeguards that can be added to an already extensive safety policy, NYTHA President Rick Violette, Jr. added, “Where safety is concerned, we need to examine every possibility, including a mandate to open all racing surfaces earlier than we have in the past before the start of the race meet.”

In 2016, NYRA's catastrophic injury rate at Saratoga, Belmont and Aqueduct, combined, was registered at 1.14 per 1,000 starts, significantly below the industry average of 1.54.

 

Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.

Copy Article Link

X

Never miss another story from the TDN

Click Here to sign up for a free subscription.