Churchill Downs announces new racing safety measures
In the wake of the recent 12 equine fatalities during the spring meet at Churchill Downs, the Louisville track announced new safety initiatives and precautionary measures Thursday.
Many of the measures deal with restrictions for horses that have previously performed poorly.
According to a press release, the track held a Thursday morning meeting that included a presentation by Californiabased equine surgeon Dr. Ryan Carpenter, “who provided educational information and tools to trainers and practicing veterinarians about advanced interventions that can be considered for certain equine injuries.”
“The attending veterinarians and trainers at Churchill
Downs are incredibly capable and knowledgeable,” said Dr.
Will Farmer, Equine Medical Director for Churchill Downs Incorporated. “We feel a duty to provide the latest information on surgical interventions from an expert who experienced the challenges in California a few years ago that we currently face today. Any decision must be made first and foremost with the long-term well-being of the horse in mind. It is imperative that all available, educated and informed options can be efficiently, confidently and thoroughly relayed to the owners.”
During the meeting, Churchill announced the following initiatives:
– A pause of track-based incentives such as trainer start bonuses and purse pay-out allocations to every race finisher through last place. Purse payouts will now be limited to the top five finishers. Churchill Downs is engaged in ongoing discussions with horsemen to determine ways to reallocate these funds to best serve industry needs;
–Restricting the number of starts per horse to four starts
during a rolling eightweek period;
– Ineligibility standards for poor performance. Horses that are beaten by more than 12 lengths in five consecutive starts will be ineligible to race at Churchill Downs until approved by the Equine Medical Director to return.
The measures will go into effect immediately, said the track.
The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) held a an emergency veterinary summit at Churchill Downs on Tuesday to discuss what it described as “the cluster” of deaths. Seven fatalities occurred in the week leading up to the Kentucky Derby on May 6, including two on Derby Day.
Churchill suffered its 11th fatality on Friday, May 26 when Lost in Limbo broke down in the seventh race and was unable to stand. The 7-year-old gelding was later euthanized. He was making his 35th career start, with winnings of $225,996 for trainer
Michael E. Lauer. Lost in Limbo’s last race was April 15 when he finished third in a starter allowance at Oaklawn Park.
Kimberley Dream, a 7-year-old mare owned and trained by Freddie D. Winston, was pulled up in last Saturday’s first race, a $68,000 claiming race for fillies and mares 4 years old and up.