Prairie Meadows's innovative panel opens communication between racing's participants with the goal of preventing injuriesRacetrack safety covers many topics, addresses a multitude of issues, encompasses numerous divergent opinions, and involves a wide range of individuals, departments, and egos. Despite personalities, fiscal responsibilities, and different geo-graphical locations, the major concern is always for the safety of horses and horsemen. Given enough time, mishaps and injuries can and will occur anywhere. Regardless of precautions, the unthinkable incident will happen sometime. Therefore, good communication, quick thinking, precautions, and rapid action will help minimize harm to both horses and people. This is the first in a series of articles that will cover varying aspects and issues of efforts to improve racetrack safety.

Short on cash, long on communication
In 1993, horsemen in Central Iowa were happy to race once again at Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa. The live race meet had been canceled in 1992 and, when the doors reopened in 1993, horsemen were eager to resume live racing, though flooding required the meet to be cut from 90 to 60 race days.
During the 1993 meet, equine safety issues and racetrack injury analyses evolved from occasional passing comments between the track superintendent and state veterinarians into regularly scheduled-twice a week or more-reviews of pertinent racing videos and discussions about the track surface and other safety issues.
Despite a bleak outlook for Iowa racing in 1994, the Equine Safety Panel (ESP) was officially established early in the 1994 meet. This was done to formalize the equine safety and injury analysis procedures that had been previously utilized by Prairie Meadows's track superintendent and the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission's veterinarians. The panel's membership was expanded to include not only these individuals but also a steward, leading jockey, starter, trainer, and paddock judge/clocker. "Top-line" administrators or policymakers from any of the participating groups were not included, which helped ensure the free flow of ideas and honest discussions. These discussions were always successfully left in the meeting room.
The purpose of the ESP was rapidly expanded into evaluating any conditions that pertained to the safety and welfare of horses and all racing personnel at Prairie Meadows. In order to achieve that goal, track surface conditions, backside safety, and injuries were evaluated by the ESP at a weekly lunch meeting hosted by the racetrack. In situations of racetrack injuries, the ESP would carefully review and analyze all pertinent racing videotapes, jockey interviews, track surface data, trainer information, prerace and post-race veterinary data, laboratory reports, and any other material in order to carefully assess and determine injury causes. Following evaluation of an incident, the panel issued a written report (including varying opinions). Improvements and suggestions that resulted from an episode evaluation were then passed through appropriate channels for action.
In 1995, the ESP membership was expanded to include both a Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred jockey as well as an additional paddock judge. And this year, the stall superintendent was added. Personnel changes and expanded membership have not harmed the performance, function, or effectiveness of the ESP.
The increase in ESP membership followed identification of four major areas of concern for equine safety. The identified areas and key individuals are barns (track superintendent, veterinarian, trainer, stall superintendent), horse paths (track superintendent, veterinarian, trainer), track (track superintendent, veterinarian, trainer, jockeys, starter, stewards), and paddock (track superintendent, veterinarian, paddock judge).

No power, just ideas and action
The Equine Safety Panel provides a forum for direct, frank, and open discussions. Members of the panel are frequently approached and asked to pass along ideas, comments, and information. Although answers are not always quick nor solutions easily found, the problems and comments are acknowledged and addressed.
The ESP has no power and only analyzes situations and makes recommendations. However, the group's diverse membership includes horsemen, management, and regulatory individuals all interested in the welfare and safety of the horses and racing personnel. Many problems have been addressed quickly and successfully. The "lack of threatening power" coupled with open interaction between volunteer members of the ESP have resulted in the panel's being recognized locally and nationally as an efficient, effective, and innovative method of communication and cooperation to improve racetrack safety.