Industry leaders at Racehorse Welfare and Safety Summit see a decrease in horse fatalities since 2009

Attendees of the 11th Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit listen to industry officials discuss racehorse safety. (FOX 56)

LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) — A year after a dozen horses died at Churchhill Downs, industry leaders said racetrack safety has never been a bigger priority. 

The long-term health of thoroughbreds was a key topic of discussion at the 11th Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit held at Kroger Field on Tuesday.

The Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation coordinated the summit. President of the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, Jamie Haydon, said the number of horse fatalities has decreased by 34% since 2009.

“So that’s a remarkable difference,” said Haydon. “We’ve decreased the number of fatalities by a third, and that’s through a culture of safety we’ve created in the industry through events like this.” 

He said that comes from years of creating a safety culture throughout the industry. 

“Every horse that competes in horse racing in the United States undergoes a physical inspection by a veterinarian before they race; I don’t know if every pro athlete can say that,” added Haydon.

However, there are some ways experts plan to keep the number of horse deaths on a downward slide. 

“Really, the future we think is going to be not only taking what we know now and the actions we can take, but also greater transparency,” said Haydon. “The Horse Racing and Safety Integrity Act has allowed us one rule, and now it covers all jurisdictions through the safety of the horse, and that’s important.”

Another way experts plan to continue efforts to make racing safer is wearable technology. 

“We think it’s going to be able to assist those veterinarians in seeing lameness that the human eye just can’t pick up,” added Haydon. “We know that almost all of our injuries are from some kind of injury buildup, such as bone fatigue, and so that wearable technology in the future is going to be great to use.”

Haydon said this summit is just one way industry officials have been able to improve equine safety for years.