WELFARE AND SAFETY OF THE RACEHORSE SUMMIT SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER

Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit Scheduled for October Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation will sponsor a two-day workshop for presentations, panel discussions and strategic planning concerning the welfare and safety of the Thoroughbred racehorse on Monday, October 16, and Tuesday, October 17, at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky. “Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation is committed to the health and well-being of all horses,” said Ed Bowen, president, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation. “Promoting health and soundness in Thoroughbreds is an important objective. Ultimately, we hope the findings will benefit all competitive breeds.” Summit topics will include statistics, track surfaces, safety equipment, medication, economics of racing and breeding, racing office management, and breeding and training practices. A steering committee composed of prominent individuals in the Thoroughbred industry is developing an agenda and list of participants and presenters for the summit. The steering committee members include Dr. Larry Bramlage, Rood and Riddle; Dr. Rick Arthur, California Horse Racing Board; Sally Baker, American Association of Equine Practitioners; Nick Nicholson, Keeneland Association; Dell Hancock and Ed Bowen, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation; Dr. Ted Hill and Dan Fick, The Jockey Club; D.G. Van Clief Jr., Breeders’ Cup-NTRA; and Dr. Scot Waterman, Racing Medication and Testing Consortium. “We would like the participants to be free-thinking individuals from key organizations within the Thoroughbred industry and other fields of expertise that could have bearing on the issues of welfare and safety of racehorses,” said Dr. Rick Arthur, equine medical director, California Horse Racing Board. The Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation board of directors initiated this effort in 2005. The Jockey Club and Equibase Company have begun researching existing studies on racing injuries and soundness, and developing pertinent statistical data from race records. “We hope what we learn on behalf of the soundness of the horse will also be beneficial to the overall racing, breeding, and sales aspects of the horse racing industry,” said Dan Fick, executive vice president and executive director, The Jockey Club. Prior to the summit, the participants will be provided with the results of the research to be better able to analyze the issues from a variety of standpoints. Presentations will be given Monday morning, followed by breakout groups and reports that afternoon. Participants will meet again Tuesday to develop and recommend definitive action plans. Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation (www.grayson-jockeyclub.org) allocated $957,260 to underwrite 20 research projects at 12 universities in 2006, including 12 new projects and the continuation of 8 two-year projects approved in 2005. Foundation-funded research helps not only Thoroughbreds and racing, but all breeds and uses of horses. Since 1983 the Foundation has underwritten 210 projects at 32 universities for more than $13 million.