Recent action by the Louisiana Racing Commission that weakens medication standards is shortsighted, ill advised, and will very likely pose a significant health risk to horses and jockeys competing in that state. The decision by Louisiana officials to allow more permissive medication policies is all the more brazen when juxtaposed against the cooperative efforts and positive direction that so many stakeholders in our sport are moving in, with enhanced safety, accountability, and integrity measures that have been implemented, including the creation of a central governing authority similar to other major American sports.
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association and its member organizations represent virtually every segment of the sport of Thoroughbred racing: horseplayers, racetrack operators (including Fair Grounds Race Course’s owner Churchill Downs Inc.), advance deposit wagering operators, breeders, owners, and trainers. Collectively, we are committed to supporting safety and welfare reforms and investment in new emerging technologies and related safety measures that are the core elements highlighted in our current Safety Runs First initiative, a public awareness campaign that launched during the lead-up to this year’s Triple Crown.
While the campaign and some of its initiatives are new, some of the programs highlighted began as far back as the early 2000s. Key subjects include advancements in veterinary protocols; the use of wearable biometric technology that can identify horses that may be at risk of injury for early intervention by trainers and vets; advanced data analytics (including the use of artificial intelligence) to screen horses for risk factors; additional deployment of advanced diagnostic imaging technologies; and greater emphasis on state-of-the-art surveillance coupled with good old-fashioned boots-on-the-ground security. The end result is a more comprehensive ecosystem of care for our equine and human athletes than at any time in the history of America’s oldest sport.
Research reinforces that this increased emphasis on safety and integrity is exactly what both core and casual racing fans expect of us. Make no mistake, we are seeing positive results. A 34% decline in racing fatalities since 2009, as measured by The Jockey Club’s Equine Injury Database, is not a statistical anomaly. It’s a very positive trend that underscores our industry’s commitment to safety. These and other improvements focused on the safety and welfare of the horse make the actions being undertaken in Louisiana all the more puzzling and disappointing.
Louisiana has a long and storied history in Thoroughbred racing, and the Fair Grounds is America’s third-oldest racetrack. Unfortunately, with its recent rule changes, Louisiana is threatening the viability of racing its own state. At the very least, this action may relegate the state to being a minor-league outlier. The decision by the Louisiana Racing Commission will make it more difficult for owners and trainers whose horses are expected to compete in other jurisdictions to continue to justify racing there. In fact, many have expressed their dismay and disappointment with these new policies and they have signaled their doubts about continuing to race there. That alone should be enough to give Bayou State regulators reason to reverse their decision to enact this ill-conceived “emergency rule.”
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Louisiana, Don’t Geaux Back!
Tom Rooney is president and CEO of the NTRA