Keeneland Re-Accredited by Safety Alliance

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association announced Oct. 2 that Keeneland in Lexington has earned re-accreditation from the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance.

Keeneland kicked off its 17-day fall meet Oct. 2. The "Breeders' Cup Prelude" program will be held Oct. 29, followed by the Oct. 30-31 Breeders' Cup World Championships.

The re-accreditation of Keeneland was the culmination of a lengthy process that began with the track's completion of a 48-page written application and continued as the track hosted several meetings with alliance officials. An on-site review included inspections of all facets of the racing operations. Interviews were conducted with track executives, racetrack personnel, jockeys, owners, trainers, veterinarians, stewards, and regulators.

Alliance officials said certification standards address an extensive list of safety and integrity concerns within six broad areas: injury reporting and prevention; creating a safer racing environment; aftercare and transition of retired racehorses; uniform medication, testing and penalties; safety research; and wagering security.

Keeneland received its initial accreditation in April 2009. All accreditations and re-accreditations carry an effective period of two years.

"We at Keeneland are very pleased to have earned re-accreditation from the alliance," said Bill Thomason, president and chief executive officer of Keeneland. "Keeneland strongly supports the NTRA's safety and integrity initiatives, and we are proud of our longtime commitment to maintaining the highest standards throughout our racing operations."

The NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance is a standing organization whose purpose is to establish standards and practices to promote safety and integrity in horse racing and to secure their implementation.