Op/Ed: No More Dirt

In the wake of the tragic deaths of 12 horses at Churchill Downs, the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) has called for an emergency summit. This presents both a moment of leadership for HISA and an important test for the independent directors of the Churchill Downs Corporation to protect shareholder interests and ensure the survival of the entire horse racing industry. They must step up and meet the moment or step down. This can be achieved by ending dirt racing in America and transitioning to synthetic surfaces.

These heartbreaking events in recent weeks have forced the horse racing industry to confront a harsh reality. On average, two Thoroughbred horses lose their lives every day on U.S. tracks. If we fail to take decisive action, the Triple Crown and horse racing itself may soon be mourned as relics of the past.  Animal rights groups, emboldened by each equine death, are gaining traction in their campaign against horse racing. The calls to ban or severely restrict the sport grow louder with each life lost. We cannot afford to lose this race for the soul and survival of our sport.

Tradition holds great power in our sport, with our most prestigious races historically being run on dirt tracks. 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.

Skeptics may argue that altering the character of the Triple Crown races would alienate fans. However, declining attendance at Thoroughbred races tells a different story. Fans are turning their backs on a sport they once adored, disheartened by the undeniable fact that their entertainment comes at a deadly price. When other sports have bravely evolved to improve safety and gameplay, we must question why horse racing clings to traditions that increasingly prove deadly.

Certainly, progress has been made. Since 2009, fatal injuries during races have declined by 37.5%. But when we consider that synthetic tracks have been proven to be three times safer than dirt tracks, it becomes glaringly apparent that we have only scratched the surface of what we must achieve. We have solid evidence, compelling data, and a clear path forward. It is time we summon the courage and resolve to embark on this path. Ironically, despite their proven safety record, synthetic tracks are in decline. This is primarily because our marquee Triple Crown events remain steadfastly tied to dirt. The stubborn adherence to tradition in our industry's pinnacle races is a disparity we can no longer afford. Shifting the surface of the Triple Crown to synthetic would be a revolutionary step, igniting an industry-wide transformation and ensuring a safer, fairer field for our equine athletes.

This is where the independent directors of the Churchill Downs Corporation can make a historic difference. Independent directors have played a crucial role in preserving shareholder value and rebuilding consumer trust for some of the world's largest companies.

In 2015, Volkswagen faced a scandal involving emissions test cheating, leading to the resignation of the company's CEO and the appointment of a new board of directors, the majority of whom were independent. The new board took swift action to address the scandal, and Volkswagen is now working to rebuild its reputation.

In 2017, companies such as Uber and The Weinstein Company appointed independent directors to address workplace harassment following a series of scandals in that regard.

In 2018, companies like Equifax and Marriott appointed independent directors to improve their cybersecurity measures after experiencing a series of data breaches.

Today, the challenges facing both the Churchill Downs Corporation and our industry provide an opportunity for its independent directors to lead by proactively and boldly addressing the crisis of equine safety instead of reacting to a growing regulatory and societal movement to ban the sport.

That is why I am calling on the independent directors of the Churchill Downs Corporation, Daniel P. Harrington, MBA, CPA, Ulysses Lee Bridgeman Jr., and Robert L. Fealy, CPA, to get on board today and publicly support this change.

The responsibility lies with horse racing's governing bodies, influential race track directors, and all key stakeholders to rally behind a transition to synthetic tracks. Their public endorsement and commitment to safer racing conditions would signal the beginning of the transformative change our industry desperately needs. But Churchill Downs Corporation must lead the way.

Fortunately, we are not without hope. NYRA's Belmont Track, a vital component of the Triple Crown, is already leading by example, planning to install a synthetic track for its 2024 spring meet. This serves as the spark we need to ignite a safety revolution.

Next year marks the historic 150th anniversary of the Triple Crown. 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.

The prestigious Triple Crown races–the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness S., and the Belmont S.–now stand on the edge of a daunting, dark abyss. Each life lost serves as a deafening alarm, signaling that change is urgently needed and indeed horse racing as a whole hangs in the balance. We owe it to our equine athletes, our loyal fans, and future generations to ensure that our sport does not crumble into a mournful memory of bygone times.

We stand at the threshold of a monumental shift. Our response to this crisis must be immediate, bold, and unwavering. The clarion call for a race towards a safer future is sounding. Switching surfaces will mean fewer breakdowns and fewer drugs in the sports. Let us answer this call with the courage and determination our horses display every time they take to the track.

This is our defining moment. Let us ensure that the Triple Crown not only continues to sparkle with excitement and glory, but also radiates a renewed commitment to the safety and well-being of our equine companions. The reins of the future of horse racing are in our hands. We must grasp them firmly and steer our sport towards a safer, more responsible era. The heart of horse racing beats in the chest of every horse that runs for us; let us honor them by championing a sport that safeguards their lives.

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Earle Mack Continues Aid in Ukraine

Operation Heat Ukraine, a humanitarian effort begun by owner/breeder Earle I. Mack, who is also the former Ambassador to Finland, and former New York Governor George E. Pataki, will undertake a fourth mission to Ukraine. Mack and Pataki have already donated and delivered nearly 1,000 industrial and residential heaters benefitting over one million Ukrainian civilians. Operation Heat Ukraine is a non-profit focused on helping those suffering due to the continued Russian attacks.

“As we reach the one-year mark of the war in Ukraine, it has never been more important to bring awareness to the struggles of innocent civilians,” said Mack. “We hope that, through our support, some of the basic needs of Ukrainian civilians will be met and urge anyone who can help to get involved.”

Long known for his philanthropy, including founding The Man O' War Project which helps military veterans through the use of retired racehorses, Mack was honored with an Eclipse Award of Merit last year. With Operation Heat Ukraine, Mack has been raising awareness in support of Ukraine's civilians and has traveled to Ukraine a number of times to disperse millions of dollars' worth of heaters and generators for homes, hospitals, schools, and refugee centers.

For more information or to donate, visit heatukraine.org.

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Mack Provides Ongoing Support With `Operation Heat Ukraine’

Thoroughbred owner and former Ambassador to Finland Earle Mack, in conjunction with former New York governor George Pataki, have launched Operation Heat Ukraine, a nonprofit dedicated to “helping those suffering due to ongoing Russian attacks on critical infrastructure,” the organization announced Tuesday.

When Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska visited New York, former Gov. George Pataki asked what her country needed most. Her answer was, “heaters, heaters, heaters.”

As a result, Governor Pataki and Ambassador Earle Mack delivered heaters to Ukraine for 200,000 people on Jan. 12. Each heater can run for 31 hours and heat a 20,000-cubic-foot area—about the size of a hotel ballroom—on a single load of diesel fuel. They delivered the first load to Viktor Mykyta, governor of the western Ukrainian region of Zakarpattia, much of which is without power and lights for eight to 12 hours a day, according to OHU. On its most recent mission, Operation Heat Ukraine donated and delivered more than 350 heaters which will be used for invincibility centers at the request of the Zelensky government and will provide heat for thousands of Ukrainians.

“To save just one life with these heaters makes our mission worth it,” said Mack. “We have come here, boots on the ground, to ensure the delivery of these heaters to the people of Ukraine,” said  Mack. “Despite billions of dollars in aid to support military efforts, there is still significant humanitarian work that needs to be done. Through our efforts, we hope to bring awareness to the horrors of this war, particularly among civilians, and to drive additional resources to support them. The importance of much needed humanitarian aid for the survival of the Ukrainian people cannot be overstated. Forming a network of individuals, foundations, and corporations, as we have done with Operation Heat Ukraine, will hopefully raise awareness and encourage others to support the Ukrainians with resources for critical daily needs.”

To learn more, visit www.heatukraine.org. To donate to the effort, click here.

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Star Plus Dies at Old Friends

Argentinian Group 1 winner Star Plus (Arg) (Alpha Plus–Nannar {Arg}), by Big Play) died Saturday following a paddock accident at Old Friends retirement facility in Georgetown. The 20-year-old had been at Old Friends for 11 years.

Following a win in the 2007 G1 Joaquin S. deAnchorena, Star Plus was purchased by Earle Mack to race in the United States, where his best finishes were a runner-up effort in the 2008 GIII Turfway Park Fall Championship S. and an allowance victory at Keeneland.

Star Plus suffered a major ankle injury and Mack's intention was to retire the bay in 2010 when he sold him to a small breeding operation with the stipulation he would not race again. However, the new owner returned the Group 1 winner to the track where he raced four times at three different tracks, Mt. Pleasant, Mountaineer, and Parx Racing, and finished last in all four races, despite Mack's letters informing the track's of the horse's condition.

Mack took matters into his own hands, and after the horse's fourth race, an allowance optional claiming race at Parx Racing on Jan. 28, 2012, negotiations were held, and with the help of some others, Mack purchased Star Plus back.

Mack then made arrangements with Blowen and donated his horse to Old Friends to enjoy his well-earned retirement. Star Plus arrived at the farm later in 2012, along with a generous donation by Mack to Old Friends to ensure the care of his horse.

“Star Plus was so much fun,” said Old Friends founder Michael Blowen. “We ran together (he always won, of course) and he seemed overjoyed with himself. Smart. Whimsical. Carefree. In short, a great role model.”

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