The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced April 3 that Churchill Downs will be the first U.S. racetrack reviewed by an inspection team as part of the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance accreditation process. The inspection visit will begin Monday, April 6.

In preparation for the accreditation visit, Churchill Downs completed a 48-page written application that serves as the first step in the accreditation process. The track also hosted several meetings with Alliance officials and met with the Alliance’s independent monitor, former Wisconsin Governor and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, Tommy Thompson. The on-site visit will include inspections of all facets of the racing facility, and interviews with track executives, racetrack personnel, jockeys, owners, trainers, stewards, regulators and customers.

Heading up the Alliance inspection team that will visit Churchill Downs are Jennifer Durenberger, DVM, Richard J. Lewis, and Mike Ziegler, Executive Director of the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance.

Durenberger is a commission veterinarian at Santa Anita Park and previously worked as an associate veterinarian for the New York Racing Association from 2003-2008. Lewis is a longtime racing official who served from 1998-2008 as Director of Racing at Bay Meadows. He is also a former trainer on the Northern California circuit