Officials with the Equine Injury Database are seeking support from owners and trainers to start voluntarily reporting injuries to Thoroughbreds during training hours. The Equine Injury Database (EID), now in its second year, already has about 19,500 reports, Mary Scollay-Ward, DVM, equine medical director for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, said Oct. 19. But the information

The largest horsemen’s group in the country continues to call for the racing industry to perform thorough research before it continues with its plan to lower the testing threshold for phenylbutazone, a commonly used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that relieves pain. The Association of Racing Commissioners International Model Rules Committee approved the lower threshold S

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission hopes to expedite regulations for out-of-competition testing and have them in place in time for this year’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Churchill Downs. Breeders’ Cup has employed out-of-competition testing in New Jersey and California the past three years. Such protocol has involved the testing of horses in other jurisdict

A study performed by Equibase at the request of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) indicates the percentage of “career-ending did-not-finish” (CEDNF) incidents was about twice as high on dirt than synthetic surfaces in 2009. The study is based on a review of official racing charts. The “CEDNF” statistics, as they are called, are for horses

An initial analysis of equine injury data released earlier this year shows no statistically significant difference in the risk of fatalities in Thoroughbreds on different racing surfaces, officials said June 28 during the third Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit.

Federal officials are calling for more education, research, and cooperation when it comes to emerging equine diseases.

During the June 22 American Horse Council National Issues Forum, a panel discussion on “Emerging Diseases: A Challenge to the Horse Industry” took center stage. It was co-hosted by the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspe

< The Unwanted Horse Coalition, now in its fifth year, adopted a multifaceted strategic plan June 21 designed to continue advocacy and education programs but move the organization to the next level. Coalition members met in Washington, D.C., as part of the American Horse Council National Issues Forum. The UHC, which falls under the AHC umbrella, devised the strategic plan during a m

All three Triple Crown host racetracks are now fully accredited by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Safety and Integrity Alliance.

The NTRA announced May 10 Pimlico Race Course, which received provisional accreditation a year ago, is now fully accredited. Pimlico will host the Preakness Stakes, second leg of the Triple Crown, May 15.

Pimlico is the 17th trac

The Racing Medication and Testing Consortium has lowered the testing threshold level for phenylbutazone (“Bute”), a commonly used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), but has kept the administration time at 24 hours prior to a race.

Thoroughbred owner Michael Gill, ejected from Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course Feb. 2 by order of the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission, said he has no intention of backing away from an announcement he’s leaving the business because it’s the only way to prove he’s not the problem.

Gill, the 2009 leading owner by races won and earnings with more than 2,2

The Kentucky Horse Council said Jan. 12 it has modified its mission statement to offer a “more accurate reflection” of how its role in the equine community has evolved.

The KHC board of directors recently adopted the new mission statement, officials said. It reads: “The Kentucky Horse Council is a non-profit organization dedicated, through education and leadership,

Although studies have been completed to determine threshold levels for almost 20 therapeutic medications, it doesn’t mean the industry will know for certain whether the drugs can impact equine performance. And it remains to be seen whether racing commissions will adopt the testing levels.

The week of the University of Arizona Symposium on Racing & Gaming ended like it bega

The Jockey Club Equine Injury Database has compiled statistics over a 12-month period for 84% of all flat racing in North America, but now comes the process of analyzing the data in an attempt to quantify the results.

Dr. Mary Scollay, equine medical director for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and veterinary consultant for the EID, said Dec. 9 stats were taken from Nov. 1, 2

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association Safety and Integrity Alliance received a positive review from its independent monitor Dec. 8 but was also told it has a lot of work to do in terms of educating the public and getting racetracks to buy into the alliance accreditation process.

The biggest accomplishment, perhaps, is the fact the alliance is intact and moving forward into

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association Safety and Integrity Alliance is seeking public comment on its activities in advance of the release of an annual report in late December.

Tommy Thompson, a former federal and state official who serves as independent monitor for the alliance, is preparing the year-end report. The alliance was formed in the fall of 2008, and this year i

Zenyatta has reclaimed the top spot in the final National Thoroughbred Racing Association poll of 2009.

The poll, which covers racing performances through Nov. 8, was released Nov. 9. Voters rated the horses on a scale of 10 down to one.