by Ed DeRosa

Telling those assembled for the final day of the International Simulcast Conference on Wednesday in St. Petersburg, Florida, that the time for action is now, National Thoroughbred Racing Association President Alex Waldrop said that his organization would begin rolling out a comprehensive Integrity and Safety Initiative on October 15 in New York City.

Waldrop said that NTRA executives would present their final plan to the organization's board of directors, including the creation of a director position in charge of building industry solidarity around the NTRA plan. That plan will encompass safety and integrity issues related to medication and testing, injury reporting, safety research related to surfaces and jockeys, and the care of retired racehorses.

Waldrop expects everyone involved in the Thoroughbred racing industry—fans, owners, breeders, tracks, sales companies, veterinarians, trainers, legislators, regulators, jockeys, and the media—to be involved in some way and warned attendees that the game would pass by those who do not participate.

“The train is leaving the station with or without you,” Waldrop said several times during the NTRA’s 45-minute presentation. “We have to act; we can’t talk our way out of our problems any longer. We have to change.”

Waldrop would not speculate on the overall cost of implementing the initiative, saying the expense will vary greatly between stakeholders depending on what needs to be done to meet the NTRA’s expectations.

The initiative is in part a reaction to the public’s perception that the racing industry has done nothing to address issues related to horse safety in the wake of Eight Belles breaking down after finishing second in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) as well as the federal government’s concern that the industry is unable to regulate itself.

“The core fans are pissed about the drug situation and the casual fans are concerned with the welfare of the horse,” said NTRA Marketing Vice President Keith Chamblin while reviewing results of a recent poll the NTRA commissioned following a tumultuous Triple Crown season. “Words are beginning to lose meaning, and core fans will leave the sport guaranteed; it’s already happening.”

Many of the aforementioned industry stakeholders had their first look at the NTRA’s initiative during a September 12 meeting in Lexington.

Ed DeRosa is news editor of Thoroughbred Times