NEWS
NTRA grants Belmont safety accreditation
Posted: Friday, May 29, 2009 4:35 PM
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association announced that Belmont Park has been fully accredited by the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance following a complete review of all racing operations at the Elmont, New York, racetrack.
Belmont is the third track to be designated by the alliance. Churchill Downs and Keeneland Race Course were fully accredited in April, while Pimlico Race Course received provisional accreditation.
The alliance, formed last October with the goal of establishing national uniform standards in the areas of safety and integrity, includes 55 racetracks in North America and every major national horsemen’s organization. Alliance certification standards cover five broad areas: injury reporting and prevention; creating a safer racing environment; aftercare and transition of retired racehorses; uniform medication, testing and penalties; and safety research.
“The safety of our human and equine athletes is of paramount importance to all of us here at Belmont Park,” New York Racing Association President Charles Hayward said. “We are proud to know that Belmont meets, and in many cases exceeds, the high standards established by the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance, and we will strive for similar outcomes during Alliance inspections of Saratoga Race Course and Aqueduct Racetrack later in the year.”
Belmont Park’s accreditation was the culmination of a lengthy certification process that began with the track’s completion of a 48-page written application and continued as Belmont hosted several meetings with alliance officials.
The on-site review included inspections of all facets of the racing facility, and interviews with track executives, racetrack personnel, jockeys, owners, trainers, stewards, and regulators. It was led by Ronald Jensen, DVM; racing official Richard Lewis, and Mike Ziegler, executive director of the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance.
Ziegler said the inspection team was impressed by the facility.
“Belmont, in fact, exceeded the alliance’s code of standards in several areas, including pre-and post-race examinations, injury reporting, equine ambulances and security training,” Ziegler said.
The accreditation program initially will focus on human and equine safety, but will be expanded to cover additional areas, including wagering security.
Arlington Park, Calder Race Course, Emerald Downs, and Monmouth Park are among the next racetracks scheduled for review.
