Thoroughbred Safety Committee Breeders’ Cup On May 8, 2008, The Jockey Club announced the formation Jockey Club, the Thoroughbred Safety Committee is The Breeders’ Cup took an important step toward ensuring directly or indirectly in his/her care from the following year’s of the Thoroughbred Safety Committee to review every facet composed of seven members of The Jockey Club: Stuart S. a level playing field for Breeders’ Cup-sanctioned races when World Championships races. of equine health, including breeding practices, medication, Janney III (committee chairman), John Barr, James G. it announced on August 1, 2008, the Sponsored by the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation the rules of racing and track surfaces, and to recommend (Jimmy) Bell, Dr. Larry Bramlage, Donald R. Dizney, Dell adoption of an official policy restricting A second offense will result in suspension actions to be taken by the industry to improve the health Hancock and Dr. Hiram C. Polk Jr. the use of anabolic steroids. As part of the of the trainer and all horses directly or Issue 6 and safety of Thoroughbreds. A standing committee of The policy, agreements will not be established indirectly in his/her care from the follow- January 2009 The recommendations emanating from the two Welfare and for Breeders’ Cup or Challenge Cup races ing two years’ World Championships Safety of the Racehorse Summits served as starting points with jurisdictions that have not adopted races. A third violation of the steroids for the committee. Three of the seven members of the the Association of Racing Commissioners policy will result in a lifetime suspension Horsemen’s Update committee participated in both summits. International (ARCI) model rule (or a from the World Championships races for similar rule) for anabolic steroids. the trainer and all horses directly or To date, the committee has made seven recommendations indirectly in his/her care. to the industry. A ban on anabolic steroids, a ban on toe A first offense of the Breeders’ Cup steroid 2008 Year in Review grabs and traction devices on front shoes, and riding crop policy will result in disqualification of the horse, forfeiture The news release announcing the steroids policy is available regulations were recommended on June 17, 2008. Creation of the purse and suspension of the trainer and all horses at http://www.breederscup.com/content.aspx?id=34004. Just as 2008 was a year of change in the political sphere, so summits assisted The Jockey Club’s nascent Thoroughbred of a task force to review drug testing and laboratory stan- too was change a dominant theme in the racing industry, Safety Committee as it hit the ground running in the weeks dards, implementation of uniform penalties, support of the which took monumental steps last year to improve welfare, following the Derby. The committee issued seven Equine Injury Database, and adoption of the Racing Med- safety and integrity and also increase consumer confidence in recommendations during the summer aimed at improving ication and Testing Consortium (RMTC) recommendations the sport. In order to effect meaningful change, all parties — the health and safety of Thoroughbreds, and additional for TCO2 testing were announced at The Jockey Club Clockwise from back: Dr. Hiram C. Polk Jr., Dr. Larry horsemen and industry recommendations are ex- Bramlage, John Barr, James G. (Jimmy) Bell, Donald Round Table Conference on August 17, 2008. Additional personnel — must be pected in 2009. R. Dizney, Dell Hancock, and Stuart S. Janney III information about the committee and its recommendations Looking Ahead to 2009 involved and work together can be found at http://www.jockeyclub.com/tsc.asp. for the betterment of In line with the Thorough- Just as 2008 brought institutional efforts to effect changes for • The Track Surface Committee will continue to research racing. bred Safety Committee’s the welfare and safety of the racehorse, 2009 promises the equipment, both new and old, to determine uniform recommendations, both same dedication and response to the industry’s needs. The characteristics in racing surfaces and ways to make them The Jockey Health Infor- the Breeders’ Cup and summit committees have already resumed meeting after the more consistent and safer for horses. Equine Injury Database mation System, which has Thoroughbred Owners and short holiday break to continue their efforts. • The Equine Injury Database will continue to seek out 12 tracks and more than Breeders Association’s non-participating tracks for enrollment and begin assessing 100 jockeys signed up since (TOBA) Graded Stakes The Jockey Club announced the launch of the Equine Injury The official launch of the Equine Injury Database followed • The Shoeing and Hoof Care Committee will be Database on July 22, 2008, to provide the racing industry a pilot program from June 1, 2007, to July 12, 2008, whereby quality data for reporting. its launch in October, and Committee implemented releasing its first full-length educational DVD in coopera- current research into racing eligibility rules related to with its first national database of racing injuries. The Equine more than 3,000 injury reports were received and recorded. tion with the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation. Injury Database grew out of a proposal from the Welfare and Since the launch, participation has grown to 75 racetracks We also look forward to collaborating with various industry surfaces, injury prevention medication, horse shoes and The DVD, entitled The Hoof: Inside and Out, is scheduled organizations and the RMTC on the implementation of and medication protocols drug testing, while the Safety of the Racehorse Summit in October 2006. that represent approximately 81% of the Thoroughbred to be released in the first quarter of 2009 and will provide racing days in North America. In ad dition, the American safety initiatives and reforms. The continued progress of all are examples of the indus- National Thoroughbred owners, trainers, and veterinarians an in-depth look at the of these efforts is made possible by the support, interest, and try pulling together for the Racing Association The primary objectives of the Equine Injury Database are to Quarter Horse Association’s Executive Committee recently importance of the hoof and proper care. expressed its support of the initiative and intention to collaboration of many industry stakeholders. benefit of the sport. (NTRA) established an • identify the frequency, types and outcome of racing participate. • The Education and Licensing Committee will be alliance to facilitate working with the ARCI to coordinate a trainer Continuing We welcome any suggestions and comments that you may The Welfare and Safety of adoption of ongoing injuries using a standardized format that will generate Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit, March 2008 valid statistics The database, which is funded entirely by The Jockey Club Education program and to work toward standardizing have and encourage you to contact us, your commissioners, the Racehorse Summit is an industry reforms in racing’s • identify markers for horses at increased risk of injury as a service to the industry, has amassed more than 6,000 licensing requirements for all people in contact with the track managements, and your legislators. Please continue to example of a spirit of coop- various jurisdictions. • serve as a data source for research directed at improving injury reports and promises to be a valuable resource for horse. visit our website (below) for further updates. eration. When the summit reconvened in March, it ushered safety and preventing injuries evaluating equine health and welfare matters going forward. in new safety initiatives and revisited some of the original These are just a few of the changes to date. More are on the recommendations from the initial summit in 2006. The horizon, and it is important for all parties to feel involved. summits, in many respects, provided a much-needed Meet with legislators and commissioners. Voice your opinion blueprint for change that would come into sharper focus because the industry is listening. This newsletter provides following the tragic breakdown of Eight Belles in the an overview of the year’s accomplishments in the areas of Kentucky Derby. All of the research and work from the Thoroughbred safety and reform. Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit 821 Corporate Drive, Lexington, Ky. 40503 (859) 224-2850 • [email protected] http://www.grayson-jockeyclub.org/summit Thoroughbred Safety Committee Breeders’ Cup On May 8, 2008, The Jockey Club announced the formation Jockey Club, the Thoroughbred Safety Committee is The Breeders’ Cup took an important step toward ensuring directly or indirectly in his/her care from the following year’s of the Thoroughbred Safety Committee to review every facet composed of seven members of The Jockey Club: Stuart S. a level playing field for Breeders’ Cup-sanctioned races when World Championships races. of equine health, including breeding practices, medication, Janney III (committee chairman), John Barr, James G. it announced on August 1, 2008, the Sponsored by the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation the rules of racing and track surfaces, and to recommend (Jimmy) Bell, Dr. Larry Bramlage, Donald R. Dizney, Dell adoption of an official policy restricting A second offense will result in suspension actions to be taken by the industry to improve the health Hancock and Dr. Hiram C. Polk Jr. the use of anabolic steroids. As part of the of the trainer and all horses directly or Issue 6 and safety of Thoroughbreds. A standing committee of The policy, agreements will not be established indirectly in his/her care from the follow- January 2009 The recommendations emanating from the two Welfare and for Breeders’ Cup or Challenge Cup races ing two years’ World Championships Safety of the Racehorse Summits served as starting points with jurisdictions that have not adopted races. A third violation of the steroids for the committee.