An emergency meeting was held by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority to investigate the recent horse deaths at Churchill Downs in Kentucky. The Authority brought together state regulatory veterinarians and vets from Churchill Downs to review the results of necropsies, toxicology reports, and veterinarians’ and trainers’ notes. Seven of the 12 deaths took place prior to the Kentucky Derby, souring the Triple Crown season. The Authority also requested Inspector Dennis Moore, a veteran California track superintendent, to examine the dirt and turf courses at Churchill Downs. The regulatory agency reviewed veterinary records to detect any misuse of drugs and applied intense scrutiny to test any suspicious horses. Churchill Downs has not been legally compelled to suspend its races, however, if the authority advises suspending, the track would lose its major source of income, lucrative television contracts and betting revenue. The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority has the authority to ensure that the regulations in place for the health and safety of horse racing’s athletes — human and equine are followed. The Authority was established by Congress and overseen by the Federal Trade Commission. The Authority’s racetrack safety program began on July 1, 2022. Its anti-doping program went into effect on May 22, shortly after National Treasure’s win in the Preakness Stakes, which followed Baffert’s two-year suspension from Derby, after a doping violation, and the death of one of his horses in an undercard race at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. In other big news relating to the sport, New York regulators suspended Todd Pletcher, a Hall of Fame trainer, for 10 days, fined him $1,000, and disqualified Forte after he failed a drug test for an anti-inflammatory drug not approved in the US for treating racehorses. In 2019, Santa Anita Park outside Los Angeles was distressed by the news that 30 horses had died in six months, leading to California lawmakers and animal rights activists’ scrutiny. To mitigate such incidents in Churchill and other tracks nationally, the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority will consider every option meticulously.
