Track safety has come a long way in a short period of time

beyond . Reprinted with permission of. Reprinted The Blood-Horse owner. copyright Copyright©2013, Copyright©2013, scratching the surface Rick Samuel s

BY FRANK ANGST

s New York-area racing fans get the track,” Kozak said. awakened to pouring rain Fri- While trucks and tractors rolling around Belmont may be a familiar sight, day, June 7, plenty of break- Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory ex- fast conversations turned to ecutive director Dr. Mick Peterson said Aspeculation of the day’s races’ being there’s more than meets the eye. In recent canceled and the dimming prospects years several tracks have added technol- ogy and information gathering to their for a fast track June 8, Belmont Stakes surface maintenance. (gr. I) day. “In New York we’re at the point now where we have this real-time tracking, But well before those conversations weather stations providing updates. started, the New York Racing Associa- Then they have very complete data that tion already had rolled out one of the most they’re entering every day,” Peterson high-tech fleets of maintenance vehicles said. “They go out and measure points on in the world. Each vehicle includes cus- the cushion every day—cushion-depth tom-made equipment designed for the measurements—that goes in the data- challenges of each NYRA track, which at base. They’re measuring moisture con- Belmont can include spring downpours Kevin Thompson tent and how that affects the toe going and strong winds. GPS technology is being used in track into the material.” As the vehicles rolled over the massive maintenance vehicles in New York On Belmont day Kozak would face what Belmont dirt oval, which was scheduled Peterson calls one of the toughest deci- 1 to use both turns of its 1 ⁄2-mile main track information, along with his experience sions for track operators: when to make in the Brooklyn Handicap (gr. II) later and staff input, gave NYRA director of the transition from a sealed track to one that day and in the Belmont Stakes a day racing surfaces Glen Kozak the confi- that has been opened up with harrows. later, signals from space reached the glob- dence to take action after the last June 6 With reliable records adding to the foun- al positioning satellite (GPS) equipment race to prepare for the deluge. Soon, he dation of experience, real-time informa- attached to each vehicle. The sensors pro- would pay more attention to the weather tion, and custom equipment, NYRA’s vided real-time monitoring of speed and report—updated every 15 minutes—and crew met the weekend’s challenge. The positioning—location to the foot—of each adjust plans as needed. previous day, 65 horses completed their vehicle on Big Sandy, which on this morn- Kozak welcomes the wealth of infor- races without incident on a sloppy, sealed ing resembled a lake more than a beach. mation. track. On Saturday 128 starters finished For more than a year before this rainy “There’s no doubt you go with your gut healthy on two yielding turf courses and day, NYRA had been using the space- on a lot of this stuff, but it’s nice to be able a main track that started the day muddy age information generated daily to build to correlate numbers either to the way the and sealed and finished as a fast surface. a maintenance record at its tracks. That track is reacting or to where you’d like to “All kinds of rumors were flying Fri-

22 / BloodHorse.com / July 13, 2013 day that we might cancel and what have database may prove more beneficial. So the materials database is getting to you. But the track was prepped Thursday “We’re getting to the point where when the point now where we can troubleshoot night, and although we had a lot of rain they start talking about the track not things,” Peterson said. “If we don’t see Friday, without wind, it wasn’t a factor being the way it used to be, we can now something in the materials database, it with the jockeys,” Kozak said. “The track go back to the database and say, ‘OK, well usually goes back to those core mainte- itself was in real good shape on Friday, it’s clear that you have less silica or more nance procedures, things like when and and we were fortunate to have the rain silica in your sand than you did before.’ how you add water.” end so that we could have a good track for Larry A. Swartzlander, director of op- Saturday’s races.” erations for the California Authority of Racing Fairs, said the RSTL’s scientific Cooperative Effort approach can be particularly beneficial Through groups and events such as the for young superintendents. RSTL, the Track Superintendents’ and “There’s a way to take care of these Arena Managers’ Field Day, the Welfare surfaces, and the lab has done a good job and Safety of the Racehorse Summit, as of formalizing that,” Swartzlander said. well as meetings at the Symposium on “It just puts structure and knowledge Racing & Gaming, track operators are in place for people who may not have as pooling knowledge. Kozak said the big- much background. It’s no longer a case gest difference he’s seen in track main- of just running a harrow across the track tenance is the amount of quality infor- and thinking that’s all you do.” mation available. In early 2012 NYRA While the RSTL compiles and provides followed the leads of Breeders’ Cup and information, the superintendents’ field Keeneland Race Course by adding GPS day allows participants opportunity to technology to its vehicles. hear about new developments and best “Once you have that in place, you’ve practices. This year’s three-day event got data you are able to go back and look will be conducted in August at Del Mar. at,” Kozak said. “We always kept things NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance exec- manually written down. Now you can go utive director Mike Ziegler said it is one of back and see trends. You can go through the industry’s most successful racetrack it easily. You’re not thumbing through 50 continuing education programs. pages of notes to see how much rain we “It has provided an opportunity for had. Now you go back to the date and you K evin Thomp s on these guys to talk and share best practic- have information every 15 minutes on RSTL’s Dr. Mick Peterson es,” Ziegler said. “It’s a great opportunity what the weather did. You know what the wind was. You know the track condition and how much water you put down, what equipment was out on the track, how fast Equine Injury Database the tractors were going. Befitting a sport that takes pride in the depth of information it captures, Thorough- “It’s getting to pinpoint a lot more bred racing has been collecting data in recent years to address safety issues. things, and they’re accurate. That’s the In 2008 The Jockey Club launched the first national Equine Injury Database, which nice thing. Plus, you can explain to horse- houses information on any racing injury that results in an equine death within 72 hours men what you’re doing and why you’re of a race. More than 90 racetracks in the U.S. and Canada participate. doing it. You can show how the track re- While some tracks and states are compiling additional equine injury information—for sponded the last time we received a half- instance injuries during training hours—the database has the advantage of generating inch of rain when it was sealed properly.” statistics using the same parameters each year, which allows for ready comparison. NYRA and other tracks are sharing Dr. Tim Parkin, a veterinarian and epidemiologist who serves as EID consultant, said that maintenance information with the the 1.5 million starts in the database now allows the industry to start identifying in sta- non-profit RSTL, which was launched tistically meaningful ways the individual factors contributing to fatalities. In examining in the spring of 2009 and features wide those starts, the EID said race-related fatal injuries have occurred at a rate of 1.92 per industry representation. With about 60 1,000 starts from 2009-12. Parkin has further examined these numbers, noting differ- tracks participating on some level, the ent risk factors. In the area of racing surfaces the EID has determined the risk of fatality RSTL uses state-of-the-art testing to pro- on synthetic surfaces was significantly lower than the risk of fatality on turf surfaces, vide 24 different soil measurements, in- which was significantly lower than the risk of fatality on dirt surfaces. cluding clay mineralogy and particle size. The Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory is taking a similar approach in compiling Tests on synthetic surfaces look at wax information on the makeup of track surfaces and maintenance. It hopes to combine its composition and types of fibers in the information with data from the EID to improve safety in the sport. track. A machine that mimics a horse’s NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance executive director Mike Ziegler said progress in hoof registers mechanical measurements the past five years in compiling safety information and beginning to use that informa- on how the surface handles the pounding. tion to improve safety has been impressive. Ground-penetrating radar can provide “We went from past performances to now knowing the where, when, how, and who, information on the base. whenever an injury occurs on the track,” Ziegler said. “The long-term goal is to create The RSTL has compiled test results for tools to help identify at-risk situations.” a materials database and is working on The EID does not require public disclosure to participate, but several tracks and regu- a maintenance database. Peterson said lators are choosing to make the safety numbers public, readily available to participants tracks were used to sending in soil sam- ples for testing so that was a logical start- and fans. By Frank Angst ing point for RSTL, but the maintenance

BloodHorse.com / July 13, 2013 / 23 beyond scratching the surface

for communicating ideas.” with increased industry safety efforts A. U. Miner broke down. While fractures Kozak said hearing how other super- such as the NTRA Safety and Integrity in his left front sesamoid ended his rac- intendents address problems is benefi- Alliance and the Jockey Club Thorough- ing career, he did recover after surgery cial. bred Safety Committee that have looked and will enter stud next season. “Each track has its own component to at a variety of safety issues, including But track superintendents involved on deal with, whether it be shade or loca- racing surfaces, in an effort to make the those big days say day-to-day safety is tion. But you might find a problem that sport safer. Coincidence or not, since their goal. is consistent from one track to another,” the catastrophic breakdown of Eight “You want it to be a safe day and you Kozak said. “And you get to see how to re- Belles, racing’s biggest days have reg- want to give horsemen the best possible spond to it; what type of equipment you istered strong safety numbers. Accord- track,” Kozak said. “Of course, there’s use. Getting guys who have been in the ing to examination of past performance more media attention on any of the mar- industry a long time to share that infor- charts and follow-up information by The quee events, but we try and have things mation is probably the most important Blood-Horse, from 1,019 starters in Tri- as safe as we possibly can every day.” thing.” ple Crown and Breeders’ Cup races since Swartzlander said the same type of Much of the track safety emphasis fol- that Derby, there have been one fatality commitment exists at California fair lowed a difficult stretch of high-profile and one career-ending injury. tracks. catastrophic break- The fatality occurred “At the fairs we have all of the families downs that includ- when Rough Sailing lost out. It’s often their first trip to the races,” ed 2006 Kentucky his footing, slipped, and Swartzlander said. “You want to present Derby Presented by fell during the 2010 Breed- a safe sporting event to them. Our tracks Yum! Brands (gr. I) ers’ Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. are very safe. We put a lot of money into winner in IIT) at . them every year. I’d put our tracks up the Preakness Stakes The career-ending break- against anybody’s in the world.” (gr. I), Pine Island in down came in the 2011 Safety efforts targeting surfaces are the 2006 Breeders’ Breeders’ Cup Marathon being carried out at a time when more Cup Distaff (gr. I), (gr. II) at Churchill when emphasis has been placed on pre-race and Eight Belles after veterinary exams, adjusting medication finishing second in t e s rules and withdrawal times, and chang- the 2008 Derby. Mike Ziegler, executive ing claiming rules and purse structures Since that time, director of the NTRA Safety as the industry takes various actions to and Integrity Alliance racing has followed Benoi t & Ass ocia improve safety.

Safety issues had turning point in 2006 For the in- dovetailed with efforts by The ings. Tracks must comply with amination this year. dustry, improving equine and Jockey Club Thoroughbred the latest code of standards. “The best thing that has come human health and safety has Safety Committee and a similar Though the alliance can’t out of this is that today’s best been an ongoing process, and group under the Thoroughbred mandate change, it can with- practices at some tracks will one that will never end. Owners and Breeders Associa- hold accreditation should become tomorrow’s standards The first Welfare and Safety tion. About five months after the racetracks fail to meet specific at other tracks,” Ziegler said. of the Horse Summit, organized high-profile breakdown of the criteria such as having pre-race “I think there will always be the by The Jockey Club through the filly Eight Belles in the gallop-out veterinary examinations for all ability to step up (safety).” Grayson-Jockey Club Research after the 2008 horses and participating in the The industry’s safety initia- Foundation, in 2006 marked Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. injury database. tives have produced an unex- a turning point for the industry. I), the National Thoroughbred Alliance executive director pected benefit: a heightened Mike Ziegler said the program Safety issues hadn’t been ig- Racing Association Safety and awareness of the need to care nored, but the industry had no Integrity Alliance was created. has been “highly collabora- for that no lon- cohesive plan for research and The alliance marked the in- tive” in that the code of stan- ger can race and adoption of implementation of policy. dustry’s first attempt at compre- dards is developed through anti-horse slaughter policies by The first summit dealt with hensive safety reform involving policies deemed necessary by many racetracks. on-track racehorse injuries and racetracks. Though formed in the industry. As of July 2013 led to creation of the Equine part to improve public percep- there were 22 accredited race- Ziegler is also executive Injury Database. Other issues tion of Thoroughbred racing, tracks the NTRA said account director of the Thoroughbred discussed in 2006 such as the alliance was able to find for about 70% of pari-mutuel Aftercare Alliance, which was shoeing, racing surfaces, and enough core support from handle in the United States. formed in February 2012 to fa- health and medical records major racing associations to Most major tracks in the cilitate accreditation of various also have been addressed in implement a voluntary accredi- country are accredited and racehorse retirement and sec- the past six years. tation program. have been re-accredited under ond-career programs. In June The summit, also held in The code of standards, up- an every-two-years review of this year the TAA received 2008, 2010, and 2012, set dated every year, includes program. The NTRA said it 27 applications for accredita- the tone for heightened aware- many policies that stemmed expects several other tracks to tion from facilities in 13 states. ness of equine safety and from the biennial summit meet- undergo the accreditation ex- By Tom LaMarra

24 / BloodHorse.com / July 13, 2013 “I think historically the easiest area to ‘blame’ a catastrophic breakdown on was the racing surface,” Ziegler said, “when actually it’s multi-factorial and it can come down to so many different things that we, as an industry, should never get complacent and just say that it’s one aspect’s fault.” Peterson said the industry must continue to address all possible injury factors. “If we can bring everybody up to the level of consistency the current best tracks, it will be huge for the is the key industry,” Peterson said. “Saratoga has a great record. It’s not the same every year. On aver- K evin Thomp s on age they have a great record, and in some years Dr. Mick Peterson, a professor at Colorado State University and co- they have a fantastic record. If they can get to founder of the Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory with Dr. Wayne Mc- that fantastic record every year, they’re at Hong Ilwraith, has spent years developing tests and equipment that measure Kong level in terms of injury rates. specific qualities in track surfaces with an end goal of improving safety. “Then if you take one of the tracks that In recent years Peterson has used his biomechanical track tester, struggles with its catastrophic injury rate and which mimics the impact of a horse’s foot on a surface, for research we can get them up to Saratoga-in-a-bad-year purposes. The data collected from the track tester have been impor- level, and we get Saratoga up to a fantastic tant in furthering Peterson’s studies. level, that would mean the dirt tracks can be “If we control certain things on the racetrack that are done every in the same category as the synthetic tracks.” day, we can produce a consistent surface,” said Peterson, who noted Peterson suspects the expense of synthetic two track testers are being used in Europe and two in the United States. tracks is curtailing industry interest in North America. They have registered strong safety “It doesn’t matter if it’s a synthetic, dirt, or turf track. We’ve gotten to numbers though, earning a significantly the point where we can tell (track superintendents), ‘If you do this under lower fatality rate when compared to dirt or these circumstances, you can keep a consistent racing surface.’ ” turf. Perhaps the synthetic tracks are mak- Peterson is excited about a new initiative led by the New York Rac- ing traction with fans. Six of North America’s ing Association tracks where the RSTL is tracking their surface main- eight tracks featuring synthetic surfaces regis- tenance via GPS equipment on tractors and water trucks. Several tered strong gains in total handle last year as cushion-depth measurements of the New York tracks are also being Arlington Park was up 12.5%; Del Mar, 8.8%; taken daily to detect surface grades. Keeneland, 9.8%; Presque Isle Downs, 14.1%; “We’re obtaining more information for track superintendents to and Woodbine, 7.2%. This came in a year that make better decisions,” said Peterson, adding the cushion-depth infor- North American tracks overall registered just mation could eventually be provided as a handicapping tool. “Even- 1.2% handle growth. tually, (superintendents) will get text messages that tell them, ‘You’re Safe tracks are taking pride in their accom- down one inch of water.’ It’s still up to them to make the judgment to plishments. In the past three full seasons at call the water truck driver and tell him to add an extra load. But this is Presque Isle, the track has had less than one augmenting their information and judgment with data.” breakdown per 1,000 starts according to the Another recent development for the RSTL is the financial support Equine Injury Database. After a strong 2011 Thoroughbred owner Bill Casner has pledged for the organization season of just 0.45 breakdowns per 1,000 to track statistics that reflect the results of Peterson’s racing surface starts, the track, which features a Tapeta Foot- studies. ings surface, said it will continue to emphasize “We can begin to take some of the tracking with the maintenance safety as a way of drawing new fans. and Equine Injury Database, and when we merge those two sources “This is a family-friendly event,” said gen- of information, that’s when we can say, ‘This is what’s right; this is eral manager Mike Tamburelli in a statement. what’s better; this improves the safety of the surface,’ ” said Peterson. “We have a lot of children and young people “People can look at the industry as a whole and get discouraged, who come here to watch the horses run. Unfor- but we have made progress and highlighting some of that is critical, tunately, it is part of life that accidents occur because we’ve got to keep going,” he added. and is no exception, so we are very Peterson said the RSTL has developed several new tests to further ex- proud to offer the safest racing in the nation.” amine the safety of various surfaces. For example, Santa Anita Park, Efforts continue to make all surfaces as safe which replaced its synthetic Cushion Track surface with dirt in 2010, as possible. Peterson said catastrophic injury is supporting an initiative to study the durability of different types of statistics have not shown dramatic improve- sand, while Keeneland is focusing on an effort to examine how wax in ment since the industry committed more re- the track’s Polytrack synthetic surface can change over time. sources to the problem, but he’s confident in- “Individual tracks have been very good at championing each of jury numbers can be reduced. these initiatives,” said Peterson, whose future goals center on integrat- “You have to take a really long view of this. ing information about track maintenance. You have to pick off issues at each track,” Peter- “We need to continue to give information to the superintendents son said, explaining that even as safety is im- that don’t have it and make sure we capture the information from the proved in one area, say racing surfaces, injury superintendents that are doing it,” he said. “It’s grading, aerating, numbers can spike if another area regresses. watering, and using the cultivator…all these little minutiae the superin- “But if we keep improving, we’ll get there. But tendents make decisions on day in and day out. (Integrating informa- it’s not going to be next week.” B tion) is the critical part of the puzzle.” By Esther Marr

BloodHorse.com / July 13, 2013 / 25