Established in 2006, thanks to the efforts of The Jockey Club and Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, the Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit provides a platform where genuine concerns regarding racehorse safety can be transformed into actionable steps.
The first summit was a two-day workshop that brought together a wide cross-section of the breeding, racing, and veterinary communities to improve safety and soundness for the Thoroughbred racehorse.
“We needed to examine all aspects of the horse’s environment to gauge the changes and challenges our racehorses were facing, and the summit was a forum for that exercise,” said Jamie Haydon, president of Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and deputy executive director of The Jockey Club.
Discussions at the summit were practical yet optimistic, focusing on making racing safer through initiatives that included the Equine Injury Database (EID) and the Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory (RSTL), both born from the summit’s focus on data and accountability.
“We have been focused on the welfare of horses for years, but shortly after we hosted the first Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit, the tragedy during the 2008 Kentucky Derby heightened interest in improving safety and welfare across the board,” Haydon noted.
With the EID tracking injuries and fatalities, the industry could evaluate risks to racehorses more effectively, while the RSTL has since become a resource for optimizing track conditions for performance and safety. EID and RSTL have been critical in determining and mitigating risks.
Over the years, the summit’s evolution has been notable due to its collaborative spirit, which has continued to bring owners, trainers, veterinarians, and many more together – even if they hold differing viewpoints.
“Our sport is built on healthy competition, so seeing industry members come together to focus on equine safety is something we’re incredibly proud of,” Haydon said. “From trainers to breeders and regulators to veterinarians, this collective willingness has led to reforms such as the void claim rule, further protecting the welfare of horses.”
These gatherings have also undeniably influenced regulatory changes within horse racing, fostering an environment where best practices can be shared and adapted across jurisdictions. Pre-race examinations, for example, have improved and proliferated, largely thanks to insights shared at the summit, and they have become a standard within horse racing.
Public perception remains a vital aspect of horse racing’s evolving narrative, and the summit welcomes input from others as attention on the welfare of horses has surged in recent years. To that end, the summit strives to “speak for the horse,” welcoming all invested in animal welfare to contribute to the ongoing dialogue.
To ensure this is possible, content from the summit reaches a broad audience online, emphasizing its growing impact with interested parties. The accessibility of discussions through platforms like the Grayson-Jockey Club YouTube page ensures that findings and resources can benefit others. For example, Dr. Larry Bramlage’s presentation on “Training and Bone Development in Racehorses” from the 2014 summit has been very influential with more than 7,000 views.
Looking ahead to the 2024 Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit, strengthening ties at the federal and state levels will be essential. Working with the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority promises to amplify the summit’s reach and effectiveness and ensure that best practices for equine welfare are not just identified but have an opportunity to be implemented to their full extent. Support for state regulatory vets and a focus on pre-race examinations are also current priorities, as is bolstering resources for the RSTL.
“As a recurring event, the summit continues to push the envelope, ensuring that welfare and safety remain integral to the sport’s evolution,” said Haydon. “It is a testament to the community’s commitment that this drive for betterment persists, illustrating an industry-wide dedication to the horses that are central to the sport.”
Embracing the challenges that come with modern advancements and new knowledge, the Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit is a beacon of progress for horse racing. It is a collaborative effort to navigate the future of racing, making sure the welfare of our cherished racehorses is never an afterthought. Through shared goals and united efforts, it’s a journey toward ensuring the health and happiness of racehorses are always a priority.
Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation recently announced that the 11th Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit will be held on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET in the Longship Room at Kroger Field at the University of Kentucky. The event, which is free to the public, will be co-hosted by the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment and The Jockey Club.