By Bloodhorse.com
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 19, 2019) — Many of the leading racing associations and track owners in the United States have formed a coalition that will work to further safety initiatives across their tracks and events.
The Thoroughbred Safety Coalition, which includes Churchill Downs Inc., the New York Racing Association, The Stronach Group, Del Mar, Keeneland, and Breeders’ Cup, will unveil its plans at an 11 a.m. press conference Nov. 19 at the Keeneland library.
Keeneland vice president and chief operating officer Vince Gabbert said the group has been working together since the spring on the new coalition, which will work together to put uniform best practices and reforms in place to improve safety.
“We’re fortunate that we’re at a point in time that we probably have more uniformity across boundaries than we’ve historically had, but our goal is to create as much uniformity and for all of us to be working under the same conditions and rules and particulars, whether you’re in Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, or New York,” Gabbert said, noting that there will be changes in each state. “There’s some areas that we need to catch up to New York and California and there’s some areas that we need to all push together.”
The announcement follows a winter-spring meet at Santa Anita Park that saw a rash of catastrophic breakdowns that put added focus on equine safety issues. Gabbert believes the coalition is uniquely poised to bring about changes and consistency on equine safety issues such as medication, vet records, and racing surfaces.
Besides its flagship Louisville track, Churchill Downs Inc. also owns Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in Louisiana, Arlington International Race Course in Illinois, Presque Isle Downs in Pennsylvania, and Turfway Park in northern Kentucky. The Stronach Group owns Golden Gate Fields and Santa Anita in California, Gulfstream Park in Florida, and Maryland Jockey Club (Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course). NYRA has Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course while Del Mar and Keeneland have their namesake tracks.
The coalition accounts for all three Triple Crown races and the vast majority of graded stakes in the country. Breeders’ Cup accounts for its annual World Championships event. The 14 tracks represented are in California, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Gabbert believes the coalition’s reach will carry weight when the coalition asks regulators for any changes.
“We’re going to get to the point of knowing every step of these horses from the time that they’re born until the time that they retire and go on to their second careers. This, as much as anything, is providing that level of transparency to our customers, participants, breeders, owners—the whole deal—to make sure we have all of the pieces in place to provide the safest conditions possible,” Gabbert said.
He noted that he expects other tracks, racing associations, and industry groups to come on board.
“We anticipate adding more members to the coalition. This is not a closed group as people want to come on board, be a part of these initiatives, and help us with this effort. We absolutely welcome that, whether they’re racetrack companies, industry groups, farms, you name it, we feel like the things that we are advocating for and pushing are things that the entire industry should and will get done.”
The coalition will work through regulatory bodies and use house rules to put forward any needed changes and bring about uniformity on rules and policies concerning issues like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, corticosteroids, medication stacking, and Lasix policies as well as working on data maintenance on racetrack moisture content and requiring electronic medical records at time of entry.
With states, which regulate horse racing, each having different processes in place for rule-making, Gabbert believes the coalition will be a powerful voice in working toward change. When swifter action is needed, he believes the tracks will use house rules as an option.