According to the federal horse racing regulator, the number of horse racing-related horse deaths that occurred at racetracks under its jurisdiction in 2023 was 1.23 per 1,000 horses, a much lower rate than at racetracks outside its jurisdiction. Ta.
The Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Authority’s report released on Tuesday said the sport’s fatality rate is lower than the Jockey Club’s national fatality rate of 1.25 for 2022 and the fatality rate of 1.32 reported in the Horse Injury Database for 2023 on Tuesday. said. HISA said in a release that its rate reporting methodology and standards are the same as Jockey Club, but Jockey Club rates for the past two years include data from U.S. Thoroughbred racetracks that operate outside HISA’s jurisdiction. It was pointed out that it was included.
These tracks have a significantly higher rate of 1.63 per 1,000 starts, the release added.
A horse died a few days before it was scheduled to run in the Breeders’ Cup.Belmont Stakes winner hurt
HISA’s fatality report marks the first report on trucks monitored by HISA since the safety program was established in July 2022. An anti-doping and drug control program came into effect in May last year.
On May 6, 2023, Mage, ridden by Javier Castellano, won the 149th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)
HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus said that while the association was pleased that rates were “heading in the right direction”, it was critical to make the sport safer. He added that much work remains.
“HISA’s most important goal is to reduce the number of horse deaths,” Lazarus said in the release. “The reduction in horse mortality at the racetracks under our jurisdiction shows that Thoroughbred racing will become safer by setting higher standards for safety, anti-doping and drug control at racetracks across the country. is showing.”
The HISA findings follow a year in which horses died from practice- and race-related injuries last spring and summer at Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby, and Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York. It is.
Twelve horses died at Churchill Downs between late April and late May, including seven in the run-up to the 149th Derby last May, including two on the undercard. did. HISA convened an emergency summit with racetrack and Kentucky horse racing officials, and the historic racetrack moved the June portion of its spring meet to Ellis Park in Henderson, Kentucky, to review its track surface and safety protocols.
A HISA report released Monday found no definitive cause for 13 horse racing or training deaths at Saratoga Race Course during the 2023 season, but another horse was killed in a barn stall accident. “We cannot overlook” rain as a contributing factor, he added.
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The 150th Derby will be held on May 4th at Churchill Downs. Saratoga will host Game 3 of the first Triple Crown of back-to-backs in June.
