An increase in the number of fatal racing injuries in May led Kentucky regulatory veterinarians to devise ways to better identify at-risk horses.

According to statistics compiled by Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) equine medical director Mary Scollay, DVM, there were six catastrophic breakdowns at Churchill Downs, in Louisville, in May. There were only three from January through April at Turfway Park, in Northern Kentucky, and Keeneland, in Lexington.

Kentucky’s regulatory veterinarians met to strategize and now "provide deeper scrutiny" of horses when they are entered, including studying past performances, Scollay said. Since the protocol was established in early June, there have been no fatal breakdowns, she said.

Overall, Kentucky has seen a decrease in catastrophic breakdowns in racing since 2007, where there were 40, according to KHRC statistics. There were 36 in 2008, 33 in 2009, 26 in 2010, and 27 in 2011

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