Breed-Specific Health Issues

Canadian Researchers Focus on Racehorse Safety

Since the loss of Barbaro and Eight Belles, NBC’s Roundtable on the horseracing industry at the 2008 Preakness Stakes, and the congressional hearing in June 2008, researchers are highlighting their efforts to improve racehorse safety and Canadian

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Kentucky Governor Bans Steroids in Racehorses

Testing for anabolic steroids in racehorses in Kentucky will begin with the start of the Keeneland fall meet under emergency regulations signed by Gov. Steve Beshear Sept. 5.

The regulations, approved by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission in

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Trainers Weigh in on Racehorse Shoe Regulations

Some leading New York trainers said a ban on toe grabs on racehorses’ shoes will help level the playing field, but they’re not all convinced the shoes are responsible for catastrophic injuries.

The New York Racing Association in early August

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Kentucky Panel Approves Ban on Racehorse Steroids

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission voted unanimously Aug. 25 to ban the use of anabolic steroids in racehorses, and the rules could be in place the first week of September should Gov. Steve Beshear sign an emergency regulation as expected.

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Special Report: Racehorse Durability

In this exclusive report, The Blood-Horse investigates whether the Thoroughbred racehorse is as tough today as it was 30 to 40 years ago. Editors of The Blood-Horse recently sought the answer to this question by producing a

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Jockey Club Launches Racehorse Injury Database

The Jockey Club has launched the Equine Injury Database system that will provide the racing industry with its first national database of racing injuries. The Equine Injury Database grew out of a proposal first put forth at the

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Prevent Fractures in Horses: New Technology Could Help

Researchers at Purdue have designed wearable acoustic emission sensors, which could be used to monitor the formation of these microcracks in bones that can lead to hairline stress fractures unless detected in time. The technology might help prevent

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Potomac Horse Fever: Don’t Ignore Fevers!

Summer and fall are key seasons for the appearance of Potomac horse fever, which is caused by the bacterium Neorickettsia risticii. Don’t be fooled by the name; Potomac horse fever originally was identified in 1979 as a sporadic disease

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Racetrack Enacts Zero-Tolerance Slaughter Policy

Sending racehorses to slaughter will not be tolerated at Suffolk Downs racetrack in Boston. Track management will now deny trainers stalls if they sell a horse for slaughter. This latest move bolsters other efforts underway to protect

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Multiple Pregnancies: Double the Trouble

The causes and management of equine multiple pregnancies.

Multiple pregnancies are an increasing problem in breeding management. They are usually multizygotic (originating from several ova, i.e., the result of multiple

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Understanding and Preventing Catastrophic Injuries

Following the euthanasia of filly Eight Belles, who suffered catastrophic injuries to both front legs a quarter mile after finishing second in the 2008 Kentucky Derby, members of every sector of the Thoroughbred industry have banded together to

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Hearing Shows Thoroughbred Racing at Critical Point

Drugged equines, grisly catastrophic injuries, greedy breeders, damaged racehorses with nowhere to go, inaction and confusion, and industry leaders more concerned with holding onto power than doing the right thing–a congressional subcommittee

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