NEWS
Safety alliance recognizes tracks’ best practices
Posted: Wednesday, December 09, 2009 9:33 PM
by Frank Angst
According to participants, one of the biggest benefits of the National Thoroughbred Safety and Integrity Alliance has been the sharing of effective practices between tracks.
In that spirit, the alliance’s executive director, Mike Ziegler, and Jockey Club Executive Director Dan Fick recognized some of the best safety practices at tracks that have been accredited or started the accreditation process during a panel Wednesday in Tucson, Arizona, at the Symposium on Racing and Gaming presented by the University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry Program.
Fick cited the industry’s success in eliminating anabolic steroid use as an example of how progress can be made when tracks, regulators, and industry leaders work together.
“Our chemists tell us they’re not seeing even trace amounts of anabolic steroids,” said Fick, who also serves as chief executive officer of the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium. “It shows what this industry can do.”
Some of the best practices follow. Some kudos go to individual tracks and some go to states that have put policies in place at all of their tracks.
Woodbine was recognized for its policy of requesting jockeys to jog their mounts after the race to provide better assessment in post-race examinations.
In the area of caring for horses after their careers, Turfway Park has a “surrender stall,” where horsemen can leave horses, “no questions asked.” The track supplies food and hay until the Kentucky Equine Humane Center retrieves the Thoroughbred. Also cited in this area were Woodbine, which commits a percentage of purses to aftercare; the jockeys at Monmouth Park, who commit a percentage of their mount fees; as well as the New York Racing Association tracks and California.
In the area of vet’s lists, Delaware was recognized for not allowing a horse on the vet’s list to start again until a blood test is completed. Woodbine also was cited for dividing its vet’s list into three categories.
Kentucky was recognized for its adoption of the model rule of requiring track workers to wear approved safety helmets and vests.
Keeneland Race Course and Woodbine were recognized for their efforts at properly padding starting gates.
California was mentioned for its efforts at training and continuing education for track workers and exercise riders. A DVD on safety produced by the California Horsemen’s Safety Alliance was recommended by Fick. Arlington Park also was recognized in this area.
California and Kentucky were cited for drug enforcement penalties that call for trainers suspended by 30 days or more to not be allowed to transfer their stables to assistants or family members.
California and New York have top policies regarding use of shock-wave therapy. New York requires a track security guard accompany the horse to the treatment.
In the area of backstretch security, Del Mar’s policy of placing a person with every horse for 24 hours before any race worth $100,000 or more was recognized. The workers use video to record the horse and make sure any visitor signs in and out before visiting the Thoroughbred.
Keeneland was recognized for its efforts to launch the Jockey Health Information System, a website now used by most tracks. The site allows jockeys to update their medical information so it is readily available to emergency workers should an accident occur.
Also recognized were an infectious disease protocol in place at Woodbine, a safety steward in California who inspects tracks, and a Delaware Park safety committee that includes horsemen, workers, jockeys, and security. The committee meets once a month to discuss safety issues.
Ziegler said in 2010, the Alliance will place emphasis in the areas of safety rails, post-career care of horses, human ambulances, and wagering integrity.
Frank Angst is senior writer for THOROUGHBRED TIMES
