Transcript Slide 1

Progress Report
Thoroughbred Safety Committee
Alan Marzelli
Mission
• Review every aspect of equine health:
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breeding practices
medication
rules of racing
track surfaces
• Recommend actions to be taken by
industry
Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation
• Past 25 Years
– $15.5 million
– 239 projects
– 35 institutions
Racing Medication and Testing Consortium
Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summits
October 2006
March 2008
38 Racing Jurisdictions
Industry Stakeholders
Recommendations
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
The Thoroughbred Safety Committee, with endorsements and pledged
cooperation from many prominent national organizations in the
Thoroughbred industry, today announced that it is recommending the
elimination of steroids in race training and racing, a ban on toe grabs,
and a series of whip-related reforms, all aimed at improving safety and
integrity in Thoroughbred racing.
Toe Grabs
Toe Grabs
Low Toes (4 mm)
Reg Toes (6 mm)
Fatal musculoskeletal injuries
1.8 x
3.5 x
Cannon bone condylar fracture
7.0 x
17.1 x
Toe Grabs
Bill Casner
Toe Grabs
“An immediate ban on toe grabs other
than wear plates with a height no
greater than two millimeters, and the
elimination of bends, jar caulks,
stickers and any other traction device
worn on the front shoes of
Thoroughbred horses while racing or
training on all racing surfaces.”
Actions
• RCI Model Rules Committee
– restricted toe grabs to no more than 2 mm
• Kentucky, California and Louisiana
– adopted the shoeing recommendation
• NYRA, Penn National, Keeneland, Turfway
and Finger Lakes
– adopted house rules to institute the bans
Actions
• TOBA Graded Stakes Committee
– adopted an eligibility requirement for
graded stakes by requiring states or
racetracks through house rules to adopt
the RCI Model Rule on toe grabs by
January, 1, 2009
Steroids
WorldPress.com
The Truth About Steroids And Sports
How Performance-Enhancing Drugs Went Mainstream
Steroids
Steroids
“The immediate adoption by all North
American racing authorities of the Racing
Commissioners International Model Rule
on Androgenic Anabolic Steroids, which
was based on RMTC recommendations,
that effectively eliminates the use of all
anabolic steroids in the race training and
racing of Thoroughbreds.”
Actions
• June 17, 2008
– 10 states had adopted the RMTC model
rule on anabolic steroids
– 12 states were in the process
• October 6, 2008
– 16 have adopted the model rule
– 16 are in the process
Actions
• TOBA Graded Stakes Committee
– adopted a new eligibility requirement for
graded stakes by requiring states or racetracks
through house rules to adopt the RCI Model
Rule on steroids
• TRA board of directors
– member tracks committed to work with racing
commissions in their jurisdictions to eliminate
anabolic steroids by the end of 2008
Actions
• Breeders’ Cup
– announced that any trainer who has a horse
test positive for anabolic steroids at the 2008
Breeders’ Cup World Championships will
receive a one-year suspension from the event
– in 2009 the Breeders’ Cup will neither fund
purses nor award Breeders’ Cup Challenge
events to racetracks that have not adopted the
RCI Model Rule on steroids
Steroids
Drug Testing and Laboratory Standards
Drug Testing and Laboratory Standards
“With the goal of developing a world-class
drug testing infrastructure in the United
States, The Jockey Club is establishing
and will fund a task force…to research and
analyze U.S. and international equine drug
testing in order to develop a business plan
for the most efficient and cost-effective
infrastructure for equine drug testing and
research.”
Equine Injury Database
Barbaro
Photos: New Bolton Center
Equine Injury Database
Equine Injury Database
Jockey Club announces injury database system
Jockey Club launches horse injury database
Jockey Club launches equine injury database
EQUINE INJURY DATABASE LAUNCHED IN US
Jockey Club Launches Injury Database
Equine Injury Database
• Identify the frequency, types and
outcome of racing injuries
• Identify markers for horses at
increased risk of injury
• Serve as a data source for research
directed at improving safety and
preventing injuries
Equine Injury Database
“Now that this system is fully operational,
the Thoroughbred Safety Committee
enthusiastically recommends an
immediate and expanded level of support
and participation from all racetracks, state
racing authorities, horsemen and
veterinarians to join together in the
necessary reporting of racehorse injuries
to the Equine Injury Database.”
Equine Injury Database
• No fee to participate
• 70 tracks have signed up (78% of racing days)
Eight Belles Fallout
May 5, 2008
Hindered by a Fragile Makeup
May 6, 2008
Racehorses Bred for Death
May 6, 2008
Derby Death Stirs Call for Change
Breeding Practices are Questioned; ‘At a Crisis State’
Committee Philosophy
“The Data Shows”
not
“We Believe”
www.jockeyclub.com
Future Study
• Lasix
• Racing surfaces
• Breeding trends
• Field size
• Treatment and use of ex-racehorses
Thoroughbred Safety Committee
Safety Initiatives
www.thoroughbredsafety.com
Progress Report
Thoroughbred Safety Committee
Alan Marzelli