HISA Announces Two Added Safety Precautions at Saratoga

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority announced Aug. 29 the implementation of two additional safety precautions that will be in place for the remainder of the meet at Saratoga Race Course, which ends Sept. 4. 

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. Through the remainder of Saratoga's 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 Aug. 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 the additional risk of equine injury in the short term as HISA continues to work with the New York Racing Association and the New York State Gaming Commission to thoroughly review the circumstances surrounding recent equine fatalities at Saratoga.

Shortly after HISA precautions were announced, NYRA released a statement, with Pat McKenna, NYRA vice president of communications, saying, "The health and safety of horses and jockeys competing at NYRA tracks is our highest priority and one that stands above all other considerations."

"NYRA is strongly supportive of the work HISA is doing here in New York State and throughout the country to enhance safety and protect the integrity of the sport," he added. "NYRA welcomes additional veterinary scrutiny of horses at Saratoga Race Course and we are working closely with HISA's Track Surface Advisory Group to ensure we are providing the safest possible environment for racing and training at Saratoga."

NYRA provided the following background on its procedures:

• The main dirt track and both turf courses are inspected before, during, and after each race day. Data and soil samples are then shared with independent engineers, who evaluate the condition and consistency of each surface. Our review has found all three racing surfaces to be consistent throughout with no anomalies.
• Every horse entered to compete at Saratoga is required to undergo an extensive pre-race veterinary examination before the horse is permitted to race. In addition to physical inspection and observation, regulatory veterinarians perform a detailed review of each horse's medical records, past performances and workouts.
• Beginning Aug. 30, NYRA will add an additional layer of scrutiny by requiring the private attending veterinarian to perform a physical examination and attest that the horse is sound and fit to race. This examination is a condition of entry that must be performed by the private attending veterinarian within a 72-hour window prior to entries being accepted for any given race.