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Adapt, Evolve, or Be Forced Out of Existence. Letter to the Editor: Amanda Luby, Welbourne Stud

In racing, there is nothing more horrific than watching a horse break down in front of you. My heart goes out to every person connected with each of the horses that has lost its life in this manner and to each fan who's witnessed this. As my husband said after Maple Leaf Mel's tragic end, “They're just innocent animals!” He left immediately after her death, horrorstruck, and, fortunately, was not at the track on Travers Day. Like countless other casual fans who've seen such awful things, it is unlikely that he will ever return to watch another race, and racing needs to understand this is the visceral reaction casual fans experience when they see these beautiful animals falter so terribly. These fans, these bettors, don't come back to the sport.

I was at Saratoga on both Whitney and Travers Day. Maple Leaf Mel and New York Thunder's injuries were the most gruesome I've ever seen in my decades in horse racing. I left the track in tears this past Saturday, having my own visceral reaction, believing strongly that NYRA should have shut down racing immediately.

A friend of mine is a crisis communications expert and she was with me this past Saturday. She's done work for the NFL and some of the world's most complex companies. She currently is the head of U.S. Communications for one of the largest law firms in the world. She has come to racing later in life, but is a horsewoman first and foremost. After witnessing New York Thunder's demise on Saturday, she summarized her thoughts below:

I get the complexities of shutting down the massive machinery of a racetrack. The business model impacts countless others that depend upon the race meet continuing. But you cannot dismiss the concerns of the public. While I can understand the need to take a broader look at the whole situation, the reality is that the optics of the breakdowns are awful. And you can't have horses running down the stretch on three legs. To give an NFL analogy, as soon as plaintiffs' lawyers could prove a causal link between football and head injuries, the sport had to change [because it risked losing everything]. Every time a horse breaks down, racing's license to operate gets shredded. Change has to happen immediately.

While I wasn't born into the sport, I've been in it my entire life. My passion for Thoroughbred racing has been a driving force in much of my professional and personal life; but this life straddles two worlds because no one else in my family or even my lifelong, closest friends are part of the sport. Because of them, I'm acutely aware of what people outside of the sport are saying. Saratoga residents who've been casual fans over the years are done. Friends around the U.S. texted me and were aghast. They were turned onto the sport because of me and now I feel responsible for the images they can't get out of their heads.

In the past few weeks, driven by this passion, I have communicated directly with various NYRA board members about my concerns and offered solutions and encouragement. This past year, with the breakdowns at last year's Breeders' Cup, on every Triple Crown Day and the country's elite meet suffering from the most awful of repeated tragedies on its biggest days…well, the damage is incalculable.

I come from a science background; and I'm a trial lawyer and general counsel by trade. I get needing to have the evidence to justify corporate decisions. However, what I don't get is being frozen and ill-prepared for such a crisis as what has befallen Saratoga this year given all of the knowledge we already have. Let's be clear, this is an industry-wide problem. We've known for years through the research of Dr. Susan Stover and others that the vast majority of catastrophic breakdowns are the result of pre-existing, micro-factures and injuries. We have observed both historical and recent patterns that breakdowns routinely occur after dirt tracks are sealed. We know rain-sodden turf tracks become uneven, slippery, and/or unsafe, particularly on the turns. We already have the data that dirt tracks are significantly more dangerous than turf; and that synthetic tracks are safer than turf. We know that biometric and diagnostic technologies can help trainers and veterinarians identify the slightest changes in horses' biomechanics and that having a standing MRI on-site at every racetrack could help veterinarians diagnose earlier and prevent fatal injuries.

The general public may not know all of these details, but it witnesses the consequences of not prioritizing safety in every aspect of the sport. Businesses cannot be so data-driven that they forget the emotions of the day, compartmentalize away the sorrowful humanity of recent events; and fail to implement immediate changes. Sometimes business needs to conduct itself with more heart. The younger, larger generations demand that; and they are the future of this sport.

I do have faith that this generational awareness is something NYRA's CEO appreciates as he regularly invites families from Saratoga's “Backyard” into the paddock to get them closer to these magnificent animals of which we are all stewards. WE ARE STEWARDS, as Jena Antonucci has reminded us this year, and that includes each track operator, racehorse owner, training operation, veterinarian, breeder, handicapper, and fan. A steward is a person who is responsible for the safety and welfare of another; and thus, it is incumbent upon each of us who professes to care for these animals to do everything in our power to ensure their well-being. This means each stakeholder, at every level, needs to adjust its business model.

What can be done now, with the information we have today?

(1) Ensure on-site access to, and immediate utilization of, the biometric and diagnostic technologies at the racetracks.

(2) Replace the dirt. The data we have NOW proves racing on synthetics is the safest. U.S. racing and breeding industry cannot keep justifying breeding for, and racing on, dirt. Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse zeroed in on that in his recent TDN interview. Every track, including each of the tracks that hosts the Triple Crown races and Breeders' Cup, needs to convert their dirt tracks to synthetic, and HISA needs to consider this as a mandate. These synthetic tracks would also ensure that races that need to come off the turf can transition safely.

(3) Breeders and owners/buyers need to get behind this; and

(4) they absolutely must, regardless of the importance of a race, empower their trainers and veterinarians to scratch horses if they have the slightest bit of concern about a horse's soundness. It is irresponsible, to say the least, to take the opposite approach.

If the sport truly puts its money where its mouth is, then it would put equine welfare first in all things and change. In the end, this sport will either adapt, evolve, or be forced out of existence by a repulsed public.

Amanda Luby, Welbourne Stud

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Williams Named Colonial Safety Officer

Rick Williams has been named Safety Officer for Colonial Downs, it was announced Tuesday. Williams will begin his role when the Colonial backside opens up July 5 ahead of its summer race meet, which kicks off July 19. Williams has a diverse racing background that includes stints as a groom, jockey agent, and in several front side departments including photo finish, mutuels and track maintenance. Before retiring in 2012, he spent his prior 15 years in a regulatory position with both the Ohio and Kentucky Racing Commissions and was involved in the Breed Development Fund in both states.

“I learned something at every stop along the way,” said Williams. “In regulatory roles, I served on a lot of committees that addressed rules, safety and medication issues. I really enjoyed that part of it–digging into the rule book and making changes that helped better the game. In Ohio for instance, we came up with a process of reviewing the rule book annually–to take a chapter each year and tear it apart. Of all the things l've done, that aspect made me feel best–the process itself of a project I was working on.”

Jill Byrne, Colonial's VP of Operations, said, “Rick will be another set of eyes, watching horses in the barns, on the track, and reporting to track management with something that may not look up to our standards, the safety and integrity and care of horses and the horsemen that we expect. He'll also work with Dr. Caruthers (VRC Equine Medical Director) in assisting her and her veterinary team as well as the stewards and racing office.”

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Please Remain Standing: New CT Scanner Changing The Landscape Of Equine Diagnostics

The following content has been originally authored by a Paulick Report contributor but is sponsored by AstoCT, the maker of this technology.

As any horse owner or trainer can attest, there are times when a horse that could talk would be beneficial—especially when it comes to determining exactly what is ailing them and where. When horse owners have exhausted the tools in their own repertoire, their first call is to a veterinarian.

A veterinarian will often begin with the basics to help determine exactly where the horse is hurting, running her hands over the horse's legs and body, and performing a lameness exam. Once she has a general idea of where and what the issue is, she may take X-rays, use an ultrasound, or block a limb in specific areas to pinpoint the cause of the issue.

If those modalities fail, and moreover if the horse is an athlete tasked with performing a specific job — like racing or eventing — she may suggest other diagnostic options to help determine the root of the problem.

A Multitude of Modalities

The next diagnostic options generally include MRI, nuclear scintigraphy (“bone scans”), or computed tomography (CT) scans. While beneficial, each of these modalities has its limitations. The tool with the broadest application is a CT scan, which produces three-dimensional images. A CT scan can be used to detect changes to bone that might not be visible on X-rays as well as soft tissue structures. CT scans are often used to diagnose lameness issues (including occult and complex fractures), as well as sinus, head, and neck problems.

While helpful, these scans generally are not without risk. Traditional CT scans are performed on a fully anesthetized horse. The area needing to be scanned is then placed inside the machine while the horse is lying on a large gurney. The size of the opening of the machine limits how much of a horse can be scanned. Typically an adult horse can only be scanned up to his hock or knee.

However, horse owners now have another CT tool at their disposal that is fast, able to be used on additional body parts, and less fraught with possible complications: The Equina by Asto CT.

High-Tech Imaging

Developed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Equina is the first dual-purpose standing CT. The machine can be used to vertically scan the lower legs and it can be used horizontally to scan the head and neck — all on a standing, sedated horse.

A horse stands on the target ring while awaiting a scan of the lower legs from the Equina system. Photo courtesy Asto CT

To scan the limbs, a horse is lead on to a platform at ground level and the limbs needing imaging are comfortably positioned within the “target ring.” At the press of a button, a circular structure rises from the platform and surrounds both front or hind legs. Unlike CT machines used in human medicine, which have limited capabilities on what they can scan, the entire opening of the Equina can produce a scan. This allows the horse to stand anywhere that is comfortable on the target ring to have his legs scanned.

Additionally, traditional machines produce large amounts of radiation, requiring the sedated horse to be in the room alone. The Equina machine, however, is self-shielded and emits exceptionally low levels of radiation. This allows veterinary staff to remain in the room with the horse and observe him closely, ensuring they are on hand to react rapidly if he needs help.

Dr. Sabrina Brounts, a professor in large animal surgery and equine sports medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, says that the entire process can take as little as 15 to 20 minutes. That includes getting the horse ready and sedated, scanning him and leading him back to his stall. The horse is typically sedated with acepromazine, detomidine, or xylazine. The scan itself takes less than a minute and if all goes well, a trained team can scan three to four horses an hour.

Brounts finds one of the Equina's unique capabilities incredibly helpful: the CT can provide scans of both limbs at the same time, regardless of if the horse is weight bearing or not.

“That gives you the information to compare both limbs [affected and unaffected] to find a cause for issues,” she explains. “The horse stands exactly like it normally does … If you had to scan one limb at a time, you would never be able to create the exact circumstances for the limbs.”

Benefits to Racehorses

Dr. Chris Whitton is the head of the U-Vet Equine Centre and lead researcher for the Equine Limb Injury Prevention Program at the University of Melbourne. Whitton is also an equine surgeon specialist and a researcher of subchondral bone injury in racehorses. For him, the biggest benefit he sees is the machine's ability to find bone lesions that are missed on radiographs. This means that the machine could be used to identify and stave off injuries — potentially catastrophic ones — before they happen.

Dr Chris Whitton with the new CT Scanner at the Werribee Equine Centre on Sept. 5, 2013 in Werribee, Australia. (Pat Scala/Racing Photos)

The machine's capability of comprehensively imaging bone and soft tissue of both limbs simultaneously is also a huge advantage, he notes. Racehorses in particular often present with bilateral injuries, and it's not uncommon to observe additional lesions in the contralateral limb from the one that is lame.

Brounts relays that the Equina can also be used as a preventative measure to scan horses before they perform an athletic endeavor and as a pre-purchase tool. Currently, scans from the Equina may show some boney changes that vets are unable to be certain are clinically relevant or if they might cause a problem in the future, she said. This lack of knowledge highlights the need for collaboration between the equine industry and vets to determine what is “normal” and for ongoing research.

Ideally, this would allow veterinarians to create a database of findings and do a longitudinal study, following horses over time with multiple scans with and without injury, she says. That way, if a horse were to become injured, vets can look back at the previous scans and determine if they could have predicted the injury.

“Hospitals that have the same machines need to do research together to find answers,” Brounts explained. “Here, at the University of Wisconsin, we are in favor of such collaboration and are currently working with the University of Melbourne [and Dr. Whitton] to try to find some answers.”

Drs. Whitton and Brounts see the use of the Equina machine going hand-in-hand with elevated attention to racehorse welfare.

“The Equina from Asto CT is so easy to use and horses tolerate it so nicely, it would be a huge asset for any racetrack [to use for] injury prevention,” Brounts said.

The limited time it takes to scan horses means that high numbers of horses can be imaged efficiently, added Whitton. He feels the limiting step to Equina use is the vet's ability to read and interpret the large number of images generated.

Whitton already has plans in place to accentuate the racing industry's dedication to equine welfare.

“We're planning to do serial scans on horses in training to monitor changes in subchondral bone over time,” he said. “It would be logistically difficult to scan every horse before every race, but scanning horses regularly should be the goal.”

A horse is ready to undergo a scan of the head and neck thanks to the Equina system. Photo courtesy Asto CT

Whitton hopes to be able to rescan horses every three to six months.

Brounts seconds this, noting that as CT scanning becomes more available for horses with and without injuries, and as more research is done, veterinarians will have a better understanding of what changes are potentially serious and what changes are of an equine athlete and pose no harm.

“This [findings] will then guide us in using the CT scan as a preventive measure in the racing industry,” she said.

First and foremost, however, is the need for collaboration.

“It will be important to have all the players in the industry supportive of scanning horses for research purposes, as well as for diagnostic or preventive purposes,” she said.

The “industry” isn't limited to just Thoroughbred racing, both veterinarians stress. The Equina has a place in the sport horse world as well. Whitton believes the machine can be useful for assessing foot conformation, examining suspensory ligaments and assessing pathology in hocks.

The need for multiple equine scans to create a baseline for sport horses is necessary, as well — and collaboration is again key: both between vets and between hospitals using the Equina. Whether the machine is being used to pinpoint existing lameness or to locate possible future injuries, the goal of the Equina is the same: to protect the equine athlete, whether he's used for racing, competition or pleasure.

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