Del Mar Earns Re-Accreditation from Alliance
Description:
The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club has earned re-accreditation from the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Safety and Integrity Alliance, the NTRA announced Oct. 27
Del Mar's 2015 Bing Crosby meet opens Oct. 29 and continues through Nov. 29.
The re-accreditation process began with the track's completion of an extensive written application and continued as the track hosted several meetings with Alliance officials, the NTRA said in a release.
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 certification standards address safety and integrity concerns within six 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.
The inspection team was comprised of Jim Gates, consultant and former general manager of Churchill Downs; Dr. Ron Jensen, D.V.M., former equine medical director for the California Horse Racing Board; Mike Kilpack, security and integrity consultant and past chairman of the Organization of Racetrack Investigators; Steve Koch, executive director of the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance; and Hugh Mecum, former New York State Gaming Commission investigator.
Del Mar received its initial accreditation in 2009, the Alliance's first year. All accreditations and re-accreditations carry an effective period of two years.