by Frank Angst

A spike in on-track racing fatalities on the synthetic Polytrack surface at Turfway Park has baffled track officials, state veterinarians, horsemen, and riders.

Those involved are searching for answers after the 21-day holiday meeting concluded with a 100% increase in on-track racing fatalities from four in 2007 to eight in ‘08. The track started its winter-spring meeting on January 1, after the eight breakdowns occurred during its 21-day holiday meet, which ended December 31.

“Any fatality is one too many for us,” Turfway Park President Bob Elliston said. “If we had one horse suffer a fatality, we’d be investigating it seriously. We’re doing everything we can to gather information.”

Turfway has brought in Jim Pendergast, of the United States division of Polytrack. He used a clegg hammer to test the racing surface. Pendergast found no inconsistencies.

Jockeys’ Guild Regional Representative Jeff Johnston said riders at the Northern Kentucky track do not believe the surface is a problem. Elliston said some horsemen even acknowledged that some of the injured horses had previous conditions that the trainers believed the horses had healed from.

“Still, I had another trainer who said his horse was in perfect condition and he appreciated the efforts we were putting into finding answers,” Elliston said.

In response to horsemen’s concerns about how Thoroughbreds were handling the surface, the track now allows the use of rear toe grabs up to one-quarter inch in length. Front toe grabs are banned at all Kentucky tracks. Turfway and Keeneland Race Course, which each feature Polytrack main track surfaces, also had banned rear toe grabs.

Bryce Peckham, interim chief veterinarian of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, said all shoe information will be documented in January to see if the policy change results in added safety.

Last year, there were five fatalities during the holiday meet but one of those fatalities was suffered in the paddock. Also, the 2007 meet was six days longer than this year’s meet.

Peckham presented information on the first six fatalities at the 2008 holiday meet to the KHRC at its regular meeting on Tuesday. Each of the six injures occurred in the front left limb. The first six fatalities came in 1,949 starts, a rate of 1 every 324.8 starts.

“I think three of them were knee injuries and three were ankle injuries,” Peckham told the KHRC.

Commission member Tom Ludt suggested that horsemen could be more to blame than the Turfway surface.

“I think it is important to note the level of racing,” Ludt said. “When horses are running at [lower levels], they are running with less care.”

Mary Scollay, D.V.M., equine medical director for the KHRC, said it is important to not jump to conclusions about the causes of breakdowns. She said a rash of breakdowns does not necessarily mean the surface is unsafe.

“There is no such thing as a vaccine for these types of injuries,” Scollay said. “If you reduce a risk in one area but increase risk in another area, then the overall risk has not been mitigated.”

Jockeys’ Guild National Manager Terry Meyocks encouraged state veterinarians to be diligent in pre-race testing. Peckham assured him state vets conduct hands-on exams of every horse that runs at Turfway Park.

In 2005, Turfway became the first North American track to conduct racing on a synthetic surface. Synthetic surfaces are billed as safer than standard dirt tracks.

“When we made the change, we were probably in the middle of the pack in terms of surface safety,” Elliston said. “But we wanted to be a leader in track safety. … We are turning over every stone in looking at these injuries.”

Frank Angst is senior writer for Thoroughbred Times