Racing regulators are holding an emergency meeting to investigate horse deaths
The Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Authority Kentucky state veterinarians gathered Tuesday, along with veterinarians from Churchill Downs, to investigate why 12 horses were fatally injured at the historic track in a matter of weeks and decide whether they recommend stopping racing there.
Lisa Lazarus, the authority’s general manager, convened the “Emergency Veterinary Summit” in Lexington, Ky., to review sections, toxicology reports and vet and trainer notes on the deaths, seven of which preceded the Kentucky Derby of this month. The deaths have cast a shadow over the Triple Crown season, the few weeks in the spring when casual sports fans have focused more on horse racing.
In addition, the authority has asked Dennis Moore, an experienced track superintendent from California, to clean the racing surfaces of Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.
“I have not had a single jockey or trainer tell me that they believe the track is a factor in these fatalities,” Lazarus said. Most of the deaths occurred after horses broke down while racing.
In addition to reviewing the protocols Kentucky state veterinarians follow to ensure horses are fit to race, Lazarus said vet records would be searched for illegal or abused drugs. She said the authority “will apply very intensive research from a testing standpoint to any horse we are concerned about”, as well as more oversight and attention to their trainers.
The assessments of each horse’s veterinary and medication history were led by Dr. Jennifer Durenberger, the director of the Equine Safety and Welfare Authority.
“It’s basically trying to get a full snapshot of that horse’s history in the month leading up to the injury,” Lazarus said. “We must turn every leaf, look under every stone.”
She said her agency will have a recommendation from the top by the end of the day Wednesday on whether and how Churchill should continue racing.
“Everyone is committed to finding out what’s happening and committed to stopping it,” Lazarus said.
Lazarus acknowledged that the authority could not force Churchill Downs to stop holding races, but it could prohibit the track from sending the broadcasts of its races to other courses or internet betting sites to bet on. That would cost Churchill dearly, who receives a percentage of those bets.
“My strong opinion is that if we made a recommendation to Churchill Downs to stop racing, they would accept that recommendation,” said Lazarus.
The authority flexes as problems in horse racing raise questions about how long America’s oldest sport can continue to renew its Social Security license.
The authority is established by Congress and overseen by the Federal Trade Commission to ensure the health and safety of horse racing’s athletes — humans and horses. His primary responsibility is to eradicate doping and abuse within thoroughbred racing.
The authority’s circuit safety program began July 1, 2022. The anti-doping program went into effect May 22, two days after Bob Baffert-trained colt National Treasure won the Preakness Stakes, marking the return of America’s most accomplished and controversial horse trainer was announced. to Triple Crown races. The win came after Baffert’s two-year suspension from the Derby, the sport’s premier leg, over a doping violation, and hours after another of his horses died in an undercard race at Baltimore’s Pimlico Race Course.
Earlier that week, The New York Times had revealed that Forte, last year’s 2-year-old champion and the favorite to win the 2023 Kentucky Derby until he was scratched on the morning of the race, had failed a post-race drug test in New York City. eight months earlier.
The colt, trained by Todd Pletcher, had tested positive for meloxicam, a powerful nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to control pain and swelling, after the Hopeful Stakes. The drug, widely prescribed for the treatment of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, is not approved in the United States for the treatment of racehorses in training.
New York regulators suspended Pletcher, a Hall of Fame trainer, for 10 days, fined him $1,000 and disqualified Forte.
The sport was turned upside down in 2019 after 30 horses died in six months at Santa Anita Park outside Los Angeles, news that made national headlines and caught the attention of California lawmakers and animal rights activists.
In response, state and race officials tightened regulations regarding the use of riding crops and drugs for horses; education for trainers and jockeys; railway safety; and recovery policy for injured horses. Last year, 12 horses died in Santa Anita, and Thoroughbred deaths across California fell 54 percent from 144 in 2019 to 66 in the past fiscal year.
Asked if similar measures could be implemented not only at Churchill but also nationally, Lazarus said: “Everything is on the table.”