Officials are conducting a probe into the relatively high number of equine deaths during the New York Racing Association's (NYRA) Saratoga Race Course meet.

The state's equine medical director, Scott E. Palmer, VMD, Dipl. ABVP, said in a written statement Aug. 29 that 11 horses died during the recent Saratoga meet, compared with eight during the entire summer session last year at the historic Saratoga Springs, New York, racetrack. Palmer said, however, equine safety has improved in New York.

"There will be challenges along the way. We are experiencing such a challenge during the 2014 Saratoga meet," he said.

The Saratoga meet ended Sept. 1