Ahead of Tuesday's special meeting of the Maryland Racing Commission to discuss the Laurel Park racing surface and other related issues, the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority announced Monday that it is conducting its own review of the recent fatalities at Laurel.
“On April 20, HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus asked HISA Director of Equine Safety & Welfare Dr. Jennifer Durenberger to travel to Laurel Park to support Maryland horsemen and Laurel Park staff in assessing the circumstances surrounding a series of recent equine fatalities,” reads HISA's statement. “Dr. Durenberger is now in the process of reviewing the information she gathered during her visit as well as available data regarding the veterinary condition of the horses. HISA Director of Racetrack Safety Ann McGovern is also collecting data and consulting with experts regarding the condition of the racetrack surface and whether it poses any risk to horses and riders.
“This review is ongoing, and HISA has not reached any conclusions regarding the potential causes of the recent fatalities. Once this thorough review has been completed, HISA will issue its findings and set forth any potential next steps. As always, HISA's primary goal is to optimize the safety of horses and riders, and that objective will be prioritized above all else in this review and in any subsequent actions.”
Live racing was suspended at Laurel beginning Friday, April 21. The April 22-23 programs were scrapped, and due a lack of entries the program scheduled for Thursday, April 27, was canceled. The Maryland Jockey Club intended to take entries for Friday, April 28, at Laurel after rejecting a request from the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association to move live racing to Pimlico Race Course ahead of the scheduled May 11 opening day of the spring meet.
The MTHA and Maryland Horse Breeders Association on April 22 sent a letter to top state officials discussing the situation and requesting that the MRC authorize former Maryland track superintendent John Passero to examine the Laurel dirt surface and make recommendations. The MTHA asked MJC to do so, but it declined. (See letter from MTHA and MHBA here.)
The MRC, which is charged with protecting the health and welfare of equines and racing participants, has statutory authority to bring in consultants when needed.
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