The recent loss of 12 horses on the Churchill Downs track, home to the renowned Kentucky Derby race, has sparked outrage and raised profound concerns within the equine and animal rights communities, reigniting a nationwide debate on safety issues and the wider implications of horse racing.

Since April, over a dozen horses have met a devastating fate on racetracks, reviving painful memories of a series of heartbreaking fatalities that occurred at the Santa Anita racetrack in California back in 2019. These recent incidents have prompted a call for immediate action to thoroughly examine existing welfare measures and implement effective strategies to safeguard horses’ safety and well-being. The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA), established in 2020 following a particularly deadly streak on the Santa Anita racetrack, once again swiftly took action, calling for an emergency Veterinary Summit to examine these events. Together with the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) and Churchill Downs, veterinary experts were instructed to conduct comprehensive analyses of the fatalities. While Churchill Downs did not identify any specific factors or discernable patterns linking the fatalities, the summit successfully generated consensus among key stakeholders on crucial intervention points for injury management, pre-race scrutiny of at-risk horses, and measures to prevent at-risk horses from participating in races.

As of June 15, 2023, the KHRC announced the introduction of a safety steward position to oversee safety procedures in horse racing. This new role will primarily focus on ensuring compliance with safety protocols across racetracks, according to the standards sets by the HISA and the KHRC. The safety steward will monitor activities in barn areas and on the racetrack, enforce medical regulations, report horse-related concerns to veterinarians, and evaluate performance drops in horse entries , amongst others. In addition, HISA commended Churchill Downs for putting in place additional measures to enhance safety on the racetrack, including providing educational resources and tools for advanced equine interventions, pausing track-based incentives, and restricting horses to a maximum of four starts in an eight-week period.

While these measures represent significant progress, addressing the root causes of racehorse fatalities will require ongoing evaluation and continuous improvement. The insights gained from these investigations, as well as drawing from the experiences of 2019 in California, provide valuable guidance for implementing comprehensive safety measures and strengthening the case for a nation-wide reform focused on equine safety. In the case of the initiatives taken by California, which involved the enactment of strict regulations concerning riding crops, medication usage, track safety, and providing education to trainers and jockeys – the efficacy was demonstrated with an overall 55% reduction in thoroughbred fatalities observed statewide.

These unfortunate events present yet another chance for reflection and improvement. By acknowledging the lessons they offer and working towards progress, we can strive to foster a nation-wide approach that prioritizes the welfare of horses above financial gains and entertainment while establishing a responsible future for Thoroughbred racing.