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Thoroughbred Safety Coalition Adds Reforms to Platform

Members of the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition Steering Committee voted unanimously to adopt four new medical and operational reforms to further reduce the use of medication in racing, enhance consistency across racing jurisdictions and promote transparency, according to a press release from the organization Monday.

The Thoroughbred Safety Coalition is an industry-led effort to advance safety measures in Thoroughbred racing.

“These new reforms set the stage for another productive year of advancing meaningful changes to strengthen the culture of safety in thoroughbred racing,” said the release.

The following recommended reforms have been added to Coalition's platform:

Prohibit intravenous, intramuscular, transmucosal, topical, nasal and oral administration of medications and substances that are not specifically authorized within 48 hours of racing
Impose requirements for the identification and treatment of hypothyroidism in horses
Adopt testing and maintenance standards for racetrack surfaces
Advocate for the adoption of all facility specifications outlined in the RMTC's Test Barn Best Practices for onsite test barns and follow the protocols consistent with the Best Practices for sampling occurring at another location

“Building out our reform platform remains the Coalition's top priority as we continue to advocate for uniform measures that will protect the well-being of our horses and the integrity of our sport across state racing jurisdictions,” said Shannon Arvin, President and CEO of Keeneland Association Inc. “Testing, whether it's for racing surface consistency, hypothyroidism or controlled substances, strengthens accountability and ensures an even playing field.”

“HISA marks a significant achievement for our community and will benefit horses, participants and fans alike by implementing uniform anti-doping, medication control and racetrack operation measures. The Safety Coalition's mission directly complements the Authority's efforts and we look forward to working together,” said Drew Fleming, President and CEO of Breeders' Cup Limited.

“The work that goes into ensuring our athletes are racing under the safest and most transparent conditions possible is constant and requires collaboration across the thoroughbred community,” said Martin Panza, Senior Vice President of Racing Operations at the New York Racing Association. “The racetrack surface maintenance and testing protocols are the direct result of such collaboration led by the NTRA and the members of this coalition and will serve as the basis for HISA's racetrack operations program.”

Coalition Steering Committee members include Breeders' Cup Limited, Churchill Downs Incorporated, Keeneland Association Inc., the New York Racing Association Inc., Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and The Stronach Group.

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Thoroughbred Safety Coalition Announces Four New Reforms, Including Ban On Unauthorized 48-Hour Medication, To Platform

Today, members of the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition Steering Committee voted unanimously to adopt four new medical and operational reforms to further reduce the use of medication in racing, enhance consistency across racing jurisdictions and promote transparency. These new reforms set the stage for another productive year of advancing meaningful changes to strengthen the culture of safety in thoroughbred racing.

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) ushered in a new era for a safer sport when it became law, and the Coalition supports the safety and integrity measures it outlines and the establishment of a central governing authority (the Authority). It is our intention to work alongside the Authority to achieve our shared goal of protecting the wellbeing of our equine athletes and the integrity of the competition to achieve a better sport for all. While industry experts, USADA and leaders outside of the racing industry work to fully implement HISA and establish the Authority in the coming year, the Coalition will continue to advance reforms that align with the programs laid out in the legislation at the state and track level.

To this end, the following reforms have been added to Coalition's platform:

Prohibit intravenous, intramuscular, transmucosal, topical, nasal and oral administration of medications and substances that are not specifically authorized within 48 hours of racing
Impose requirements for the identification and treatment of hypothyroidism in horses

Adopt testing and maintenance standards for racetrack surfaces
Advocate for the adoption of all facility specifications outlined in the RMTC's Test Barn Best Practices for onsite test barns and follow the protocols consistent with the Best Practices for sampling occurring at another location

“Building out our reform platform remains the Coalition's top priority as we continue to advocate for uniform measures that will protect the wellbeing of our horses and the integrity of our sport across state racing jurisdictions,” said Shannon Arvin, President and CEO of Keeneland Association Inc. “Testing, whether it's for racing surface consistency, hypothyroidism or controlled substances, strengthens accountability and ensures an even playing field.”

Progress towards these commitments by TSC Steering Committee members can be found on the Coalition's Accountability Tracker.

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Thoroughbred Safety Coalition Adds New Reforms To Platform

The Thoroughbred Safety Coalition announced on Thursday the addition of eight medical and operational reforms to its platform in its latest move to ensure that equine and human athletes are racing under the safest and most transparent conditions possible. The Steering Committee, which is made up of executives from the Breeders' Cup, Churchill Downs Inc., Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Keeneland Association, the New York Racing Association (NYRA) and The Stronach Group, voted unanimously to adopt the reforms with the ultimate goal of uniform implementation across racing jurisdictions.

The Coalition also recently participated in the drafting of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act and continues to fully support its passage, which would codify a standard set of rules and protocols to make racing safer and more transparent across state racing jurisdictions. In addition to the national legislation, the Coalition believes the work to advocate for these reforms at the state level must persist.

“As today's announcement and recent progress make clear, the Coalition's important work to ensure the wellbeing of our athletes has continued despite the challenging circumstances our industry and our nation have faced this year. The new reforms will go a long way toward increasing our collective ability to identify at-risk horses before they set foot on a track and protect the integrity of our sport,” said Coalition Strategic Advisor Donna Brothers.

The following reforms have been added to the Coalition's platform:

Strengthen race entry and eligibility requirements;
Work with state racing commissions to apply racing regulations surrounding prohibited substances and restrict selected therapeutic substances in proximity to high-speed works;
Prohibit the administration of external treatments, therapies and musculoskeletal manipulation within at least 24 hours of a race;
Work with state racing commissions to implement a clenbuterol prohibition in racing and training along with reporting/procedural requirements as outlined by the RMTC;
Strengthen requirements for removing horses from the Veterinarians' List;
Adopt a waiver claiming option for horses coming off an extended layoff;
Require implementation of an emergency track warning system; and
Modify racetrack on and off gaps to increase horse and rider safety.

“The industry must be wholly committed to horse safety and welfare in racing and training, and that includes the racing organizations,” said Dr. Dionne Benson, Chief Veterinary Officer at The Stronach Group. “These additional reforms codify the measures many tracks have already undertaken to best protect our horses.”

“The ability to work with my colleagues and counterparts at other Coalition tracks on a regular basis has enabled us to share best practices and build upon one another's experiences and findings related to Thoroughbred safety, which is evident in the reforms we announced today,” said Dr. Stuart Brown, Equine Safety Director at Keeneland. “This level of collaboration ensures that the uniform safety reforms that the Coalition is advocating for are proven and effective solutions.”

“The safety of our athletes must be everyone's top priority, and the adoption of uniform rules and standards reinforces our commitment to the wellbeing of our horses,” said Dr. Will Farmer, Equine Medical Director at Churchill Downs Incorporated. “As our respective organizations advocate for or, where applicable, use house rules to implement the Coalition reform platform, the collective culture of safety within our industry continues to grow.”

The Coalition's Advisory Committee members – the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association (KTA), the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA), and the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC), along with Industry Supporter members Dixiana Farm, Mt. Brilliant Farm, Stonestreet Farm and the University of Kentucky – supported the development of the reforms and will continue to be instrumental in the Coalition's efforts to advocate for their adoption at the regulatory level.

The Coalition Steering Committee continues to convene on a regular basis to discuss issues and ideas relating to equine safety and the integrity of the sport. These meetings bring together Thoroughbred racing's most prominent tracks and organizations in the U.S. in a manner that is unprecedented – but much needed – in the racing industry. The collaborative framework built by the Coalition has also enabled members to work together, in coordination with other stakeholders, to support the racing and local communities and to bring back live racing safely and responsibly amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

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Thoroughbred Safety Coalition Adopts New Reforms

The Thoroughbred Safety Coalition has added eight medical and operational reforms to its platform. The group’s Steering Committee, made up of executives from the Breeders’ Cup, Churchill Downs Incorporated, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Keeneland Association Inc., the New York Racing Association (NYRA) and The Stronach Group, voted unanimously to adopt the reforms with the ultimate goal of uniform implementation across racing jurisdictions.

The following reforms have been added to the Coalition’s platform:

Strengthen race entry and eligibility requirements;
Work with state racing commissions to apply racing regulations surrounding prohibited substances and restrict selected therapeutic substances in proximity to high-speed works;
Prohibit the administration of external treatments, therapies and musculoskeletal manipulation within at least 24 hours of a race;
Work with state racing commissions to implement a clenbuterol prohibition in racing and training along with reporting/procedural requirements as outlined by the RMTC;
Strengthen requirements for removing horses from the Veterinarians’ List;
Adopt a waiver claiming option for horses coming off an extended layoff;
Require implementation of an emergency track warning system; and
Modify racetrack on and off gaps to increase horse and rider safety.

“As today’s announcement and recent progress make clear, the Coalition’s important work to ensure the well-being of our athletes has continued despite the challenging circumstances our industry and our nation have faced this year. The new reforms will go a long way toward increasing our collective ability to identify at-risk horses before they set foot on a track and protect the integrity of our sport,” said Coalition Strategic Advisor Donna Brothers.

The post Thoroughbred Safety Coalition Adopts New Reforms appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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