Veterinarians said Dec. 7 the racing industry is making significant progress in identifying causes for equine injuries, and they urged patience despite persistent negative public perception in regard to catastrophic injuries in racehorse and welfare issues.

Veterinary issues and equine welfare were among the topics discussed during the University of Arizona Symposium on Racing & Gaming. High-profile catastrophic breakdowns within the last six years have led to many advances, but the industry sometimes has trouble getting that message across to the public.

"Horse welfare is good business for horse racing," said Rick Arthur, DVM, equine medical director for the California Horse Racing Board. "The public expects us to do best by these horses."

Scott Palmer, VMD, director of the New Jersey Equine Clinic, noted how the Equine Injury Database was launched about three years ago but just now is producing a critical mass of information. Still, there is a long way to go