Longtime owner and breeder Earle Mack wrote an op/ed for the Thoroughbred Daily News this week proposing a solution to the 12 fatalities at Churchill Downs and burgeoning public relations crisis facing the entire racing industry: a switch to synthetic surfaces.
“Tradition holds great power in our sport, with our most prestigious races historically being run on dirt tracks,” Mack wrote. “However, the stark and troubling statistics demand a shift in thinking. We must abandon old norms and embrace new practices that prioritize the safety and welfare of our noble equine athletes. The benefits of synthetic tracks are not mere conjecture; they are a proven truth. Their superior safety record and fewer injuries make their adoption not just an option but an ethical imperative.”
Specifically, Mack called on the independent directors of the Churchill Downs Corporation to lead the way for a switch to synthetic surfaces, thereby “proactively and boldly addressing the crisis of equine safety instead of reacting to a growing regulatory and societal movement to ban the sport.”
Belmont Park is already installing a synthetic surface alongside its dirt course, Mack pointed out.
“Next year marks the historic 150th anniversary of the Triple Crown,” he concluded. “This milestone should be more than a nostalgic reflection on the past; it should be a fervent pledge for a safer future. A future where our sport remains a thrilling spectacle but also evolves into a beacon of safety, integrity, and respect for our equine athletes.”
Read more at the Thoroughbred Daily News.
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