RCI Considers New Model on Rail Standards
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An Association of Racing Commissioners International's (RCI) committee said regulatory standards for racetrack rail systems should be updated to embrace new systems and technologies developed to protect jockeys and horses.
The announcement follows the RCI's rider and driver safety committee meeting Oct. 24 in Lexington.
"It's been 33 years since the Fontana safety rail was developed and we believe it's time to revisit the question of what constitutes a safety rail and how best to protect riders, drivers, and horses from catastrophic injuries resulting from track accidents," said RCI president Ed Martin in a release.
Former Illinois regulator and once accomplished jockey Allan Monat chaired the committee meeting, which included racing regulators and representatives from The Jockeys' Guild, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Safety and Integrity Alliance, National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, and the Racing Officials Accreditation Program.
The meeting was triggered by a request to RCI from Terry Meyocks on behalf of the Guild for a reassessment of safety rail requirements and industry dialogue on how to better protect riders and horses.
The committee met with and questioned representatives of Duralock Performance Fencing, Horsemen's Track and Equipment, and Global Barrier Systems about the various safety rail systems currently being manufactured and in use at racetracks worldwide.
Current standards embodied in the RCI Model Rules require that the top of the rail be between 38 and 42 inches. Some current safety rail systems are as high at 50 inches and manufacturers claim that horses running with blinkers can better see a higher rail.
Committee members expressed an interest in developing standards that address both height and flexibility concerns as well as limiting exposure to sharp objects capable of causing injuries.
The committee members indicated that information concerning accidents would be helpful in assessing the most effective standards to adopt.
The committee voted to recommend adoption of a model rule requiring the reporting of rider injuries to the Jockey Injury Database. That recommendation will be considered when the RCI model rules committee meets in December.