Today HISA is introducing two additional safety precautions that will be in place for the remainder of summer meet at Saratoga Race Course.
HISA rule 2142(a)* requires all horses running under HISA's jurisdiction to undergo post-entry screening. This review occurs between the time the entry is taken and the time the regulatory veterinarians perform their in-person physical inspections on race day. This function is generally carried out by local regulatory veterinarians.
Going forward through the remainder of Saratoga's summer meet, a HISA veterinarian will perform these post-entry screenings to provide an additional layer of independent analysis to identify any horses that may be at increased risk of injury before a race.
Members of HISA's newly-formed Track Surface Advisory Group are now on-site at Saratoga to thoroughly review both the dirt and turf surfaces before live racing is scheduled to resume on August 30.
The Track Surface Advisory Group is comprised of seven experts in a broad range of factors that contribute to dirt, turf and synthetic surface consistency. In addition to on-site inspections, the Advisory Group will examine historic and pre-meet inspection data compiled by the Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory.
These steps are being taken to mitigate additional risk of equine injury in the short term as HISA continues to work with NYRA and the New York State Gaming Commission to thoroughly review the circumstances surrounding recent equine fatalities at Saratoga to inform additional interventions moving forward.
*HISA RULE 2142(a):
The regulatory veterinarian shall perform post-entry screenings of previous pre-race inspection findings of entered horses to identify horses that may be at increased risk for injury. The regulatory veterinarian shall review past performances, lay-ups (more than 60 days without a timed workout or race), last 30 days medical history, previous injury and lameness diagnostics, intraarticular corticosteroid injections, previous surgery, and individual horse risk factors.
Possibly the only thing more unsettling than being a horse owner experiencing an infectious disease outbreak on their farm is to be a veterinarian who experiences one.
That was the case for Dr. Trisha Dowling, professor of veterinary clinical pharmacology at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatchewan, Canada. In 2008, Dowling took a horse and a pony off her farm and trailered them to a local lesson barn to use their indoor arena. Neither the horse nor pony encountered any other horses while they were there.
A week later, one of Dowling's horses colicked with unusual symptoms; then the pony fell ill. At first, Dowling thought the pony had contracted rabies and tried to manage the disease unsuccessfully. Two weeks after that, another horse fell ill and this time, she tested the horse for equine herpesvirus (EHV).
“Eventually, six of my horses developed neurological signs,” recalled Dowling. “All survived but one mare remained slightly ataxic for the rest of her life. My youngest horse only developed a fever and a unilateral uveitis. One of my neurological horses developed bilateral uveitis.”
There are a few different strains of EHV, but the most common is EHV-1. It often presents with mild respiratory symptoms and fever, but in some horses it can progress into equine herpes myeloencephalopathy (EHM), which is characterized by neurological symptoms and can quickly turn intense. If a horse develops advanced neurological signs, the disease can prove fatal.
EHV can easily be spread through nasal secretions, and it's unknown how long it can live on shared surfaces or hands.
EHV-1 is a major concern at large events where horses from different populations may be stabled together. Experts believe that most horses have been exposed to the virus at some point in their lives and may spontaneously begin shedding it through their nasal secretions if they're under stress. It may also be true that a small percent of the population could be “super spreaders” who can carry and shed huge amounts of the virus, sometimes without appearing to be ill themselves. This makes the virus very hard to control.
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Dowling contacted Dr. Lara Maxwell, professor of physiological sciences at Oklahoma State University. Maxwell has made a study of pharmacology of many equine drugs, as well as their effectiveness against specific diseases. Part of Maxwell's research has dealt with the use of the antiviral valaciclovir against EHV-1, and she suggested Dowling give it a try.
Valaciclovir is the second generation in a closely-related group of drugs that have been tried for EHV-1; acyclovir was its predecessor but had poor bioavailability and had to be given by injection. The oral valaciclovir is easier for laypeople to give, and much more of the drug got to the horse.
“One of my endurance horses was highly rated and I was hoping to make the Canadian Equestrian team for the 2010 World Equestrian Games,” said Dowling. “Dr. Maxwell recommended the treatment with valacyclovir as soon as possible. Basically, I bought all the available supply of the drug in Saskatoon ($4,000 worth) and treated her. She was the only one of my horses that did not develop any signs of EHV even though she tested positive. We did end up as alternates for the team in 2010 – oh, well. But it was worth the cost to me to protect the most valuable of my horses against the clinical signs of EHV.”
Dr. Nicola Pusterla, professor of medicine and epidemiology at the University of California-Davis, said that we now know valaciclovir can be a great weapon against an EHV-1 outbreak like Dowling's – if it's given in the right context. Studies have since shown that if you give it to a horse who's already exhibiting the neurological signs classic of EHM, you probably won't do much to change the outcome of the case. It's also a good protective option if it's given to a horse before they're exposed to EHV-1, but most of the time, horse owners don't know they're taking their horse into a facility where another animal is shedding the virus.
Where it is useful, according to Pusterla, is treating horses who may be showing the earliest signs of illness but for whom neurological symptoms haven't shown up yet – those with fevers and mild lethargy.
“We know that valaciclovir is very potent and repeatedly shown to work best in the early stages of disease,” said Pusterla.
He also thinks it's a good way to slow an outbreak.
“Experimental studies have shown that by the time a horse has a neurological deficit, the use of valaciclovir will not alter the outcome,” he said. “Where I see one of the huge benefits in treating an EHM horse with valaciclovir is the rapid decline of viral shedding and viremia … putting them on a drug which rapidly, in 24 or 48 hours, will significantly reduce the amount of viral shedding and nasal secretion is a tremendous benefit in reducing or preventing environmental contamination or transmission to other horses.”
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Pusterla does have concerns that valaciclovir and the third generation of the drug, ganiciclovir, can be overused by panicked horsemen who want to give it to outwardly healthy horses as a way of protecting them. It works for this, for as long as the drug is being actively given, but Pusterla worries it will ultimately create viral resistance to the drug, similarly to the way scientists have noted concerns about a growing bacterial resistance to antimicrobials.
The evolution of veterinary understanding of valaciclovir's use against EHV-1 wouldn't have been possible without years of academic research from Maxwell and her colleagues. Some of those key studies were funded by the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, which funds research that benefits horses of all breeds. Since its foundation in 1940, the organization has given more than $40 million to underwrite over 426 projects at 45 universities. Grayson-supported research has changed the way owners, farm managers, trainers, and riders of all disciplines manage horses in times of wellness, illness, or injury. Find out more about its current projects here.
In Dowling's case, the drug functioned as it was supposed to – and despite having horses who had lasting deficits from EHM, she hasn't had any more problems on her farm.
“I tested my horses after 'stressful events' such as a colic surgery and after 100-mile endurance rides,” she said. “I was never able to demonstrate any shedding in any of my horses. I brought in naïve horses and they did not become infected. The mare who remained ataxic gave me two nice fillies in the next couple of year.
“We have not had an outbreak around here like the 2008 one (over 100 horses at the [index] barn tested positive and three were euthanized),” Dowling said. “The cost of the drug is what would stop most of the horse owners around here. But if the horse is valuable enough, it seems like a good idea to try to protect them from what can be devastating consequences of EHV infection.”
Old Friends, the Thoroughbred retirement facility in Georgetown, Ky., is deeply saddened to announce that Sarava, the upset winner of the 2002 Belmont Stakes (G1), has died today.
According to the preliminary report from Dr. Colton Thacker at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, he was euthanized due to complications from a leg fracture. He was 24.
The dark bay Thoroughbred was the first Classic winner to be retired to the farm on Sept. 29, 2012, thanks to his owners, Gary Drake, and Paul and Susan Roy of Great Britain.
Bred by Bill Entenmann's Timber Bay Farms, Sarava, who was by Wild Again-Rhythm of Life, by Deputy Minister, was foaled in Kentucky on March 2, 1999.
Sarava, which is a Brazilian greeting that means “good luck,” began his racing career in Europe in 2001 as a 2-year old, where he ran three times, but never finished in the money.
The beautiful dark bay stallion was then sent to back to the United States and won his first start there in a maiden claiming race at Churchill Downs on Nov. 21, 2001 under trainer Burk Kessinger. He only ran one more time that year, where he finished second in an allowance race at Turfway Park.
He returned to the track in 2002 as a 3-year old with a new trainer, Ken McPeek, and after a minor injury kept him off the Derby trail, scored the best accomplishments of his career.
Following two second place finishes in allowance races, he bounced back and won the Sir Barton Stakes (Listed) on the Preakness Day undercard at Pimlico on May 18 for his first stakes victory.
His next race, however, is the one that put him into the history books when he upset the field and won the 134th running of the Belmont Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park on June 8. Ridden masterfully by Hall of Fame Jockey Edgar Prado, Sarava, who went off at 70-1 odds, battled Medaglia D'Oro throughout the race after War Emblem, who was attempting to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978, stumbled at the start.
Guided by Prado, Sarava took the lead coming out of the final turn, and at the wire got the win by a half-length over Medaglia D'Oro to become the longest shot ever to win the Belmont Stakes. He paid $142.50, $50.00, and $22.40. War Emblem, who would also become a retiree at Old Friends, finished eighth.
In 2005, as a 5-year old, and with a new trainer, Bob Baffert, Sarava finished sixth in an allowance optional claiming race at Del Mar. Following that race, he suffered a serious bout of colic and did not race the rest of the year.
He did return to the track in 2006 as a 5-year old, but was never the same. In the seven races he ran that year, he never finished in the money. He was retired following his last race on Aug. 22 where he finished fifth in the Saratoga Breeders' Cup Handicap (G2) at Saratoga.
Sarava concluded his racing career with a record of three wins, three seconds, and $773,832 in earnings in 17 starts.
He began his stud career in 2005 at Cloverleaf Farms in Florida, and then was moved to Cloverleaf Farm in Kentucky in 2007. In 2008, he was sent to Bridlewood Farm in Ocala, Fla. for the remainder of his stud career. His best progeny included stakes-winner, Gladding, as well as stakes-place runners Gorgeous Melody, Star of Sarava, and Sarava's Dancer.
Sarava was pensioned in 2012 and, following conversations between then-Midway, Ky. Mayor Tom Bozarth and co-owners, Gary Drake, and Paul and Susan Roy, the then 13-year old stallion was donated to Old Friends and arrived at the farm on Sept. 29, 2012.
“It's a sad day for our family and friends,” said owner Gary Drake when he heard the news. “We've all been Sarava fans since we met him in 2001. When you get into horse racing, you hope to have the opportunity to be involved with a horse like this. I mean it's cliche, but people say it all the time, they (the horses) take you places you would never go otherwise, and certainly Sarava did that for us.
“He was a, a cool horse, a lot of fun to be around,” Drake continued. “And, he lived half of his life at Old Friends and was the beneficiary of having all of those visitors who came by his paddock to visit him and fed him carrots. He lived a good life there. I wish he was going to be around longer, but that's the life with horses.”
“As everybody knows, he gave me one of the biggest thrills of my career,” said Edgar Prado, Sarava's jockey in the Belmont. “When I moved to New York, he gave me my first Triple Crown winner. Everybody will remember him, not only for that, but as one of the biggest longshots in history to win the race.
“I was glad to see him recently at Old Friends,” Prado continued. “But I think the most important thing is that in the last years of his life, he's spent quality time among so many good people that showed him love, showed him respect and admiration for what he has done for horse racing. It's tough to see him go, but I think he felt the love from all the staff at Old Friends who did a super job.”
Added Michael Blowen, President and founder of Old Friends, “Sarava attracted so many fans to Old Friends. Most recently, a horse player said he bought a condo in Ft. Myers with his winnings from that race. But, to us, he was a lot more than the longest shot in the history of the Belmont Stakes who defeated fellow Old Friends retiree, War Emblem. He was proud, independent and, in his way, very lovable. And you can't buy that … even at $142.50. We thank owner Gary Drake and friend Tom Bozarth for allowing us to care for Sarava for more than a decade.”
Four major equine organizations came together in May to announce that they would dispense with one of the worst-kept secrets in the horse world.
The press release began, “At next year's Paris Olympic Games, Thoroughbreds competing in any of the equestrian disciplines – dressage, show jumping and eventing – will, for the first time, be recognised in the starting lists and results. In past Olympics, the retired Thoroughbred racehorses competing were listed only as 'breeding unknown.'”
This announcement was made in conjunction by the European and Mediterranean Horseracing Federation (EMHF), the World Breeding Federation for Sports Horses (WBFSH), the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), and the International Stud Book Committee (ISBC). It's worth applauding any time multiple horse organizations come together in support of the Thoroughbred breed, but it's worth understanding what we're actually applauding.
This announcement, at least in part, resolves the following scenario: a horse begins a show jumping round at the Château de Versailles during the 2024 Olympics, and spectators would like to know the breed of that horse. Before, they would look in the program only to see that it says “breeding unknown.” Now, it will say “Thoroughbred.”
However, the fact that the horse previously had “breeding unknown” is not actually true or accurate. The identity of a Thoroughbred is based on the horse having a Thoroughbred sire and Thoroughbred dam. Thoroughbred breeding lines are not a secret; the “General Studbook for Thoroughbred Horses” launched in England in 1791 is regarded as the first official horse studbook and the model warmblood breeds have subsequently used to catalogue pedigrees for their registries. If they were “retired Thoroughbred racehorses,” as the press release identifies, they also would have been registered with a Thoroughbred stud book, such as The Jockey Club in the United States or one of the members of the EMHF.
So, really, the fact that “Thoroughbred” was not identified in the starting lists and results at the Olympics was not because their breeding was “unknown,” but rather because it was not “recognized.” The press release explains the reason for this, “The issue arises because, under a Memorandum of Understanding between the FEI and the WBFSH, only member stud books of the WBFSH have historically been credited, and the WBFSH only has members that specifically breed horses for the Olympic disciplines.”
The word “historically” in that last sentence carries a lot of weight, and let's just say it's a lot closer to the rise of the current French president, Emmanuel Macron, than it is to any member of the French monarchy that lived at Versailles. The Memorandum of Understanding between the WBFSH and the FEI is from 2015, which was quite a significant year for the Thoroughbred breed. It's the year that American Pharoah was “finally the one,” as announcer Larry Collmus exclaimed to a worldwide audience when the Triple Crown was won for the first time in 37 years. It's also the year that the Retired Racehorse Project hosted the Thoroughbred Makeover at the Kentucky Horse Park for the first time, establishing the annual pilgrimage of Thoroughbred enthusiasts to Lexington for “the largest Thoroughbred retraining competition in the world for recently-retired ex-racehorses,” according to the RRP's website.
However, while these events put the Thoroughbred racehorse and the Thoroughbred sporthorse under arguably the biggest spotlight the breed has seen in the 21st century, the year 2015 is also the year that the Thoroughbred breed became erased from the FEI's database of international sporthorse competitions. The WBFSH was founded in 1994 with 25 studbooks of different sporthorse breeds and has grown to include 86 studbooks. A studbook for Thoroughbreds is not one of them. Spoiler alert: it never will be, at least under the current framework and mission of the WBFSH.
More on that later, but when the WBFSH became old enough to drink legally in America, the organization whose mission is “to foster breeding progress to produce the best sport horses,” according to its website, partnered with the FEI to exclude the Thoroughbred breed from appearing on the guest list of the party that puts the biggest spotlight on equestrian sports outside of horse racing—the Olympics. Thoroughbred could compete but would not be identified as Thoroughbreds.
The Olympics used to recognize Thoroughbreds, contrary to the press release's claim that the 2024 Games in Paris will be “for the first time.” For example, the “Official Results Book” for the 2012 London Games designates seven Thoroughbreds that competed in eventing and show jumping with “THB” under “Breed.” The same is the case for the “Official Results Book” for previous Olympics.
The graphic below includes a page from the 2012 “Official Results Book,” and I've highlighted the two Thoroughbreds listed on it—Clifton Promise and Flintstar. Five other horses on the page are by Thoroughbred stallions. The Thoroughbred stallion Heraldik, the sire of Butts Leon, is approved for at least 10 different warmblood studbooks in Germany. He sired four horses at the 2012 Olympics—three in eventing and one in dressage.
The Thoroughbred influence on sporthorse breeding is undeniable from this page alone. It's baffling why the FEI would then agree to the removal of “Thoroughbred” given the breed's clear influence on sporthorse breeding.
This page from the “Official Results Book” for the 2012 Olympics recognizes two Thoroughbreds under “Breed.” Five other horses on the page are by Thoroughbred stallions. The red boxes have been added to point out the Thoroughbred influence on sporthorse breeding.
Only in 2020 (because the organizing committee in Rio did not produce an Official Report after the 2016 Olympics) did a Thoroughbred like Glenfly, a former steeplechaser in England who was a member of the Brazilian eventing team with Marcelo Tosi, have his breeding designated as “OTHER.”
So, this idea that Thoroughbreds will be officially recognized in the 2024 Olympics is not “for the first time,” and not even “For the First Time in Forever.” Reading between the lines, what this announcement has shown is that the relationship between the racehorse world and the sporthorse world is “Frozen.” Given that the racing industry continues to make improvements to provide racehorses with their best opportunities to succeed in second careers (and there is still plenty of progress to be made), it's time to work together to unfreeze the winter that exists in equine Arendelle and get to the foundation of what the Thoroughbred is.
Although the Thoroughbred breed has been developed over the past four centuries with the goal of producing the ultimate racehorse, the selective breeding to create horses that could excel at racing has also produced horses that can be successful at many other equine sports. That's a good thing because even the oldest racehorses are still very young with many good years potentially ahead of them.
The Jockey Club celebrates this in several ways, a big one being through the recognition of racehorses as sporthorses in the Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.). Putting the spotlight on Thoroughbred successes through ribbons recognizing former racehorses at horse shows and through Thoroughbred-only championships across a variety of equine sports accomplishes two things, although the intensity of each one is in the eye of the beholder: 1) it honors the rich history of Thoroughbreds in equine sports; 2) it treats the Thoroughbred as different from other breeds. Depending on which of these two considerations are more valued determines how the Thoroughbred is viewed.
“We are still always fighting the stigma, 'Well, that's just a Thoroughbred.' And we think, 'Yeah, that's a Thoroughbred,'” said Kristin Werner, Senior Counsel of The Jockey Club.
While celebrating that their racehorses “can” achieve success in other sports, much of the racing world still treats this as separate from or even an anomaly to the primary goal of racing success. For instance, several Thoroughbred breeding lines are standing out as successful sporthorse producers, but there's still a stigma that sporthorse success only comes about because of racehorse failure.
“With the ones that are showing at the Olympics or five-star eventers, I'm like, 'How are you not as proud of this horse, who at 20 years old is doing this, that shows that your breeding works?” Werner said.
The WBFSH, the organization that unites warmblood studbooks that are purpose-bred for sport, also pigeonholes Thoroughbreds into racing first and anything else secondary. Therefore, Thoroughbred studbooks are not eligible for WBFSH membership.
“This is because the WBFSH members must have one of their breeding [goals] that they breed for at least one of the Olympic disciplines,” said Nadine Brandtner, General Manager of the WBFSH. “This is not a breeding goal of the Thoroughbreds.”
This distinction means that Thoroughbreds are not eligible to participate in the World Breeding Championships for Young Horses (WBCYH) or be included in the discussion with other breeds in WBFSH rankings. This is in spite of the fact that Thoroughbreds have a rich history of Olympic success, and the breed is actually sought-after in breeding for sporthorses within the studbooks that are members of the WBFSH. Here's an excerpt from when “Horowitz on OTTBs” tackled the issue of Thoroughbred genetics:
In fact, the qualities that the Thoroughbred possesses have inspired crossing other breeds with the Thoroughbred. For example, the Irish Sport Horse Stud Book that has excelled in eventing has developed through crossing with Thoroughbreds.
Horses with a high percentage of Thoroughbred blood were some of the highest sellers at the recent Monart Sale and Goresbridge Go For Gold Sale for event horse prospects in Ireland.
There are even full Thoroughbreds for sale through Monart and Goresbridge. Because they're registered as Irish Sport Horses, they're eligible to compete at World Breeding Championships. The absurdity is you just can't call them “Thoroughbreds.” There are also Thoroughbreds in the United States that are purpose-bred for sport rather than racing, but unless they're registered with another studbook, they will be excluded from the World Breeding Championships.
Brandtner joined the WBFSH in 2016, and the Thoroughbred breed has made strides within the organization. Her family bred racehorses, so she understands their value, particularly when it comes to the role racing plays in the big picture of equine sports having a social license to operate.
“The social license to operate is the endorsement that the whole of the equine sector needs for us to keep doing what we do,” she said. “The most basic element is that we are still allowed to use the horse, and then on top of that comes how we do this, and how we treat and keep our horses. This is no different in racing as in equestrian sport. The public, that may not be involved with horses at all, will not distinguish between the two industries when it comes to the rights of the horse. And therefore we in the sector have a collective and collaborative responsibility to work on our social license.”
The recognition of Thoroughbreds in starts lists and results at the Olympics and other FEI competitions is a step in the right direction.
“Initial discussions within the WBFSH recognized the significant impact that the Thoroughbred has had, and still has on the evolution of the warmblood,” Brandtner said. “That, and the joint responsibility that both industries have on the SLO, played a part in the decision of the WBFSH to recognize the Thoroughbred on starting lists, even if the [breed] cannot be a member of the WBFSH, and therefore cannot participate in the WBCYH, or appear in the WBFSH rankings.”
The next step for the good of the horse is for the leaders of the racehorse and sporthorse industries to come together, not just to talk about how great it is that racehorses can go on to second careers, but to ensure that Thoroughbreds have equal opportunities as other breeds in other equine sports. Thoroughbreds are not outliers; they are just as worthy and just as valued by upper-level riders as any other breed out there.
“A working collaboration between the Thoroughbred and the WBFSH might be a consideration for the future, since there are many common interests and challenges facing our two industries,” Brandtner said.
Thoroughbreds have a rich history in the Olympics.
They stole the show at the two Summer Games held in Los Angeles. Taine and Xavier Lesage won individual and team gold in dressage for France in 1932.
Touch of Class and Joe Fargis won individual and team gold in jumping for the United States in 1984.
“Now, we're trying to catch back up in the other direction and remind people that Thoroughbreds are still good sporthorses,” Werner said.
Hopefully, with the Olympics set to return to Los Angeles in 2028, The Jockey Club and the rest of the racehorse world can expand on its efforts to recognize and to trace Thoroughbreds outside of racing. And, the WBFSH and the rest of the sporthorse world can expand on its efforts to collaborate with the racing industry to address equine sports' social license to operate.
Announcing horse races inspired Jonathan Horowitz to become an advocate for off-track Thoroughbreds and Arabians, as well as to learn to event on horses he used to announce at the track. He also serves as Acting Director for the Arabian Jockey Club and runs the Super G Sporthorses eventing barn with his wife, Ashley. He can be reached on Facebook and Twitter at @jjhorowitz.
