Horsemen Groups State Views on Safety Coalition

A Nov. 19 press conference at Keeneland announcing the creation of the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition was noteworthy for its presenting members, and also for the absence of representatives from other industry groups.

Though spokespersons from the Breeders’ Cup, Churchill Downs Inc., Keeneland, the New York Racing Association, Del Mar, and The Stronach Group comprised the press conference's panel in Lexington, along with two veterinarians, missing were horsemen and representatives from The Jockey Club, the industry breed organization. Regardless, response was largely positive from those on the sidelines that watched the press conference or read about the initiatives.

Among the group’s plans are stricter guidelines for allowable medications, standards for crop use, increased transparency of veterinarian exam records, and commitments to forming positions to implement and enforce the proposed reforms.

Alan Foreman, chairman of the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, and Eric Hamelback, CEO of the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, said their organizations were not asked to play immediate roles in the creation of the coalition. But Foreman said the proposals are mostly in line with those he and others advanced with the Mid-Atlantic Strategic Plan to Reduce Equine Fatalities, providing an example of the common initiative that prohibits the administration of any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication to a horse within 48 hours of a race.

“So to the extent that this effort will address our concerns and the needs for the industry, then this is a good thing,” Foreman said when reached via telephone. “It will lead to more significant steps that need to be taken.”

Whether successful implementation can occur when prior industry-led reforms largely fell short, is another question, though Hamelback sees potential.

“If anything, I truly applaud Churchill and The Stronach Group speaking about putting funding towards it,” he said in a telephone interview. “We certainly had organizations that put out information and then were not able to apply the funding to push those initiatives forward.”

Still, horsemen are not universally on board with all proposals from these alliances, nor toward the Horseracing Integrity Act, federal legislation that would create a private, independent national horse racing anti-doping authority responsible for developing and administering anti-doping and medication control. Restrictions on Salix, the anti-bleeding medication more commonly known as Lasix, have been met with pushback by some horsemen and practicing veterinarians.

The Jockey Club, a part owner of BloodHorse, supports that legislation. Shannon Luce, director of communications for The Jockey Club, said Monday that her organization expects to issue a statement Nov. 20 regarding the formation of the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition.

“I’ve said it and I’ll say it again, the Horseracing Integrity Act does not address the fundamental issues that confront us just now,” Foreman said. “It isn’t just medication. We need safety, welfare standards for our horses to be mandated across the board and need to be implemented at all of our racetracks, which are what we are doing in the Mid-Atlantic.”

The new coalition is split in its view of the Horseracing Integrity Act, said Drew Fleming, president and CEO of Breeders’ Cup.

“Everything is on the table, including some form of federal legislation,” he stated at the press conference. “But one important point that I want to emphasize is the need for immediacy. We all know federal legislation can take some time and that’s why we are here today to make immediate, impactable change.”

The coalition hopes to further address jockeys’ use of the riding crops and advance safety protocols for riders, which Terry Meyocks, national manager for the Jockey’s Guild wants in consultation with jockeys.

“Whether it’s the safety of the racetrack or the turf course, or the horse itself, having a rider’s input is very important,” he said after attending the conference.