by Frank Angst

Thoroughbred racing expects to enter a new era of improved detail of racing injury statistics—on a national level—with the launch of the Jockey Club Equine Injury Database on Tuesday.

The injury database grew out of a proposal at the Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit in October 2006 in Lexington and follows a pilot program that started on June 1, 2007, in which 3,000 injury reports were received.

With improved reporting and compilation of racing injury statistics, the injury database is designed to:

• identify the frequency, types, and outcome of racing injuries using a standardized format that will generate valid statistics

• identify markers for horses at increased risk of injury

• serve as a data source for research directed at improving safety and preventing injuries.

The Jockey Club, through its subsidiaries InCompass Solutions Inc. and the Jockey Club Technology Services Inc., will underwrite the costs of operating the system. The injury database software will be provided free of charge to racetracks and racing organizations.

“The Jockey Club has devoted significant financial resources and technological expertise to the project from concept to implementation in order to ensure that the Equine Injury Database became a reality,” Jockey Club President Alan Marzelli said.

Besides funding the project’s development, The Jockey Club will use its central database infrastructure, pedigree data access, and Equibase race result data with the software. The injury database will use the InCompass Race Track Operations software applications used by every racetrack in North America. Many racetrack and regulatory veterinarians already use the system when performing pre-race veterinary exams.

As chairman of The Jockey Club’s Thoroughbred Safety Committee that was formed after the catastrophic injury to filly Eight Belles after this year’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), Stuart Janney III said the database would provide critical information on racing injuries.

“The creation and launch of the Equine Injury Database system fills a glaring void in our industry,” Janney said. “We are encouraged by the interest and support received from racetracks during the pilot phase of the project, and we strongly recommend the same level of support and participation now that the system is fully operational.”

Marzelli credited the efforts of Kentucky Equine Medical Director Mary Scollay, D.V.M., and California Equine Medical Director Rick Arthur, D.V.M.

Frank Angst is a Thoroughbred Times senior writer