An article from the Thoroughbred Daily News, At Santa Anita, the Wounds Are Healing and Safety Rules, (Friday May 17th) highlights some very positive news at much-maligned Santa Anita; NO breakdowns in months, making it statistically the safest track in North America during this admittedly limited time period. 

Santa Anita has achieved these impressive results with a highly integrated approach, working with vets, trainers and owners and purchasing state of the art diagnostic equipment to aid in the early detection of pre-existing conditions.  They have curbed (but not eliminated) the use of bute, banamanine, Lasix and corticosteroids, and instituted complete transparency when it comes to veterinary records, along with a much-needed increase in out-of competition testing. While many of us support the elimination of bute and Lasix on raceday, abuse of these legal and (in proper doses) therapeutic drugs are most a tiny part of a more serious problem, the use of illegal drugs, which can only be addressed by ongoing testing.

Some of the steps taken, like voiding claims post race subjectively rather than objectively when a horse is clearly injured on the track, are not in the best interest of the horses or the business. It’s a learning process and sensible rules-reforms are certainly subject to discussion among industry stakeholders. But Santa Anita is demonstrating it’s perfectly possible to have safe racing, all it takes is a long-lacking commitment from our entire industry. Nothing is perfect, left in the wild horses regularly are injured and die, it’s (sadly) part of the nature of the breed. As stated in the TDN article “most horses have little aches and pains here and there. They’re professional athletes that train hard”. However, if many of the changes taken by Santa Anita were instituted uniformly nationwide, racing would be a lot safer and have a far more positive public image.  The proposed Thoroughbred Horseracing Integrity Act before Congress would establish an independent nongovernmental anti-doping authority responsible for implementing a national uniform medication program and setting nationwide rules – standards. Nothing is more overdue or more worthy of the support of anyone who truly cares about the welfare of horses and riders.

The TDN article is lengthy, well worth reading in its entirety, but if your time is limited some of the key points below are highlighted in red.