Record Low for Fatal Breakdowns in Kentucky

Officials are crediting a collaborative effort after Kentucky delivered its safest year on record in 2014 in terms of both number of equine breakdowns in races and rate of equine breakdowns.

In 2014 there were 16 catastrophic breakdowns during races at Kentucky Thoroughbred tracks, which is the lowest number since the state began tracking such statistics in 2007. The 16 fatal breakdowns during races in 2014 is down 30.4% from the 23 such incidents in 2013, and down 65% when compared with the 40 equine fatalities that occurred during Kentucky Thoroughbred races in 2007.

The state also registered its lowest rate of catastrophic breakdowns, which in 2014 occurred 1.11 times for every 1,000 starts. The rate is 41.5% lower than the 1.9 rate that occurred nationally in 2013 (the most recent year available), according to The Jockey Club Equine Injury Database. The 1.11 rate also is down from the 1.73 rate recorded in Kentucky in 2007.

In 2013, Kentucky had 23 catastrophic breakdowns during races and a rate of 1.41 per 1,000 starts. Those were both record lows, since stats have been kept, until Kentucky improved on the numbers again in 2014.

Kentucky Horse Racing Commission equine medical director Mary Scollay noted that the big drop compared with 2007 has come through steady progress as rates were about 1.6 in 2008 and 2009, and around 1.4 from 2010-13 before taking another drop this year. Scollay said a collaborative effort has led to the reduction in catastrophic breakdowns.

"There has been a successful collaborative effort in Kentucky that includes horsemen, owners, veterinarians, blacksmiths, racetracks, and the commission to improve the safety and stewardship of our horses," Scollay said. "It's not a matter of one person doing a big dramatic thing, it's a matter of everybody doing their part. We're seeing the benefits of that."

Scollay said by targeting a multitude of factors, equine safety has been improved to rates close to what's seen at international racing venues.

"People are inclined to focus on just one thing, 'It's the surface.' 'It's the medication.' 'It's the breeding,' whatever they choose to fixate on," Scollay said. "But the reality is it is a multi-factorial event and you have to address all of those small factors in order to get a significant change."

Kentucky Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association executive director Marty Maline acknowledged that regulatory veterinarians in the state deserve a lot of the credit.

"There's more of an active presence," Maline said. "Sometimes horsemen feel the vets are a little overzealous (in scratching horses), but they're erring on the side of caution when they decide not to let a horse run."

Maline also said regular committee meetings between horsemen and tracks have helped address racing surface concerns early on. He also said having experts like Mick Peterson, of the Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory, regularly review racing surfaces in the state has helped the tracks' consistency.

Maline applauded the effort in recent years at Turfway Park to work its Polytrack into top shape for safe racing and consistent training. While much of its racing is conducted in winter months, in the past five years Turfway's breakdown rate of 1.05 per 1,000 starts is well below national averages. 

He credited Keeneland with a seamless transition from synthetic to dirt this year and noted that the drainage systems at Keeneland, Ellis Park, and Churchill Downs have helped deliver safe surfaces.

Keeneland moved from a Polytrack surface for its main track in the spring to a dirt surface in the fall. The Lexington track offers dirt and turf racing, as does Churchill Downs and Ellis Park. Turfway Park offers racing on its Polytrack while Kentucky Downs offers turf racing.

In 2014 Kentucky registered four racing months without a single catastrophic breakdown: March, April, June, and December.