Robert Beck Jr., the newly appointed chairman of the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority (KHRA), plans to ask the organization to consider forming a working group to review Thoroughbred horse racing health and safety concerns during a meeting on May 19 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.     

Beck, who was appointed KHRA chairman in April by Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear, said the proposed group will look at several issues and offer recommendations to the authority.

“I envision the group would assemble information that has already been prepared by other organizations and assess the need for additional work on safety issues,” Beck said. “We also want to work with other industry organizations, owners, breeders, trainers, and jockeys to make improvements to the racing community.”

Beck said the KHRA has adopted race-day medication rules designed to enhance the health and welfare of the horse as well as to protect the integrity of racing in Kentucky. KHRA veterinarians currently perform race-day leg examinations on horses and review health records for potential health problems.

The Jockey Club and the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation worked together during summits in 2006 and ’08 that dealt with welfare and safety issues. The officers of the Jockey Club also have commissioned a seven-member Thoroughbred safety committee that will meet for the first time on May 14 in Lexington.