Racetrack Safety Has a Long Way to Go

According to a recent report release by the AP, safety reforms at racetracks have done little to reduce the number of deaths at American racetracks. A national count of the number of fatalities in 2008 (1,217) showed little change from 2007 (1,247)--3% fewer deaths overall.

"If it were that easy to change, we would have flipped that switch a long time ago," said Mary Scollay, DVM, Equine Medical Director for the state of Kentucky. Scollay is in the process of collating a data base of breakdowns across the industry and the figures have yet to be released.

The racing industry has taken numerous steps to improve the safety of their sport including the banning of steroids, which many believe are weakening the breed. In addition, many states have replaced whips with softer crops, banned toe grabbing shoes, padded the starting gates and installed synthetic surfaces. Yet overall, the impact of these reforms has been low.

State by state, however, the results have been more dramatic especially in Louisiana, which reported 18 fewer deaths in 2008 (40) than in 2007 (68). Many attribute this to the implementation of a pre-race medical exam and the state of Arizona is hoping to implement a similar requirement this year if its state budgets permit it.

The jury is most definitely still out on the role of synthetic racing surfaces in eliminating fatalities. Turfway Park had no fatal breakdowns for the first 69 days of racing after they installed a synthetic surface. Then, last December, 8 horses died within a month--twice as many as in 2007.

It is clear that there are many factors that are involved in improving safety in horse racing and it may be that not all of them have been corrected. Or then again, it may be that correcting all of them may not eliminate accidents from happening.