alan marzelli progress report thoroughbred safety committee

Alan Marzelli

Progress ReportThoroughbred Safety Committee

Mission• Review every aspect of equine health:

– breeding practices– medication– rules of racing – track surfaces

• Recommend actions to be taken by industry

Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation

• Past 25 Years– $15.5 million– 239 projects– 35 institutions

Racing Medication and Testing Consortium

Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summits

October 2006

March 2008

38 Racing Jurisdictions

Industry Stakeholders

Recommendations Tuesday, June 17, 2008

The Thoroughbred Safety Committee, with endorsements and pledged cooperation from many prominent national organizations in the Thoroughbred industry, today announced that it is recommending the elimination of steroids in race training and racing, a ban on toe grabs, and a series of whip-related reforms, all aimed at improving safety and integrity in Thoroughbred racing.

Toe Grabs

Toe Grabs

Low Toes (4 mm) Reg Toes (6 mm)

Fatal musculoskeletal injuries 1.8 x 3.5 x

Cannon bone condylar fracture 7.0 x 17.1 x

Toe Grabs

Bill Casner

Toe Grabs

“An immediate ban on toe grabs other than wear plates with a height no greater than two millimeters, and the elimination of bends, jar caulks, stickers and any other traction device worn on the front shoes of Thoroughbred horses while racing or training on all racing surfaces.”

Actions

• RCI Model Rules Committee– restricted toe grabs to no more than 2 mm

• Kentucky, California and Louisiana– adopted the shoeing recommendation 

• NYRA, Penn National, Keeneland, Turfway and Finger Lakes– adopted house rules to institute the bans

Actions

• TOBA Graded Stakes Committee– adopted an eligibility requirement for

graded stakes by requiring states or racetracks through house rules to adopt the RCI Model Rule on toe grabs by January, 1, 2009

SteroidsWorldPress.com

The Truth About Steroids And SportsHow Performance-Enhancing Drugs Went

Mainstream

Steroids

Steroids

“The immediate adoption by all North American racing authorities of the Racing Commissioners International Model Rule on Androgenic Anabolic Steroids, which was based on RMTC recommendations, that effectively eliminates the use of all anabolic steroids in the race training and racing of Thoroughbreds.”

Actions

• June 17, 2008– 10 states had adopted the RMTC model

rule on anabolic steroids– 12 states were in the process

• October 6, 2008– 16 have adopted the model rule– 16 are in the process

Actions

• TOBA Graded Stakes Committee– adopted a new eligibility requirement for

graded stakes by requiring states or racetracks through house rules to adopt the RCI Model Rule on steroids

• TRA board of directors – member tracks committed to work with racing

commissions in their jurisdictions to eliminate anabolic steroids by the end of 2008

Actions

• Breeders’ Cup– announced that any trainer who has a horse

test positive for anabolic steroids at the 2008 Breeders’ Cup World Championships will receive a one-year suspension from the event

– in 2009 the Breeders’ Cup will neither fund purses nor award Breeders’ Cup Challenge events to racetracks that have not adopted the RCI Model Rule on steroids

Steroids

Drug Testing and Laboratory Standards

Drug Testing and Laboratory Standards

“With the goal of developing a world-class drug testing infrastructure in the United States, The Jockey Club is establishing and will fund a task force…to research and analyze U.S. and international equine drug testing in order to develop a business plan for the most efficient and cost-effective infrastructure for equine drug testing and research.”

Equine Injury Database

Photos: New Bolton Center

Barbaro

Equine Injury Database

Equine Injury Database

EQUINE INJURY DATABASE LAUNCHED IN US

Jockey Club launches equine injury database

Jockey Club launches horse injury database

Jockey Club announces injury database system

Jockey Club Launches Injury Database

Equine Injury Database

• Identify the frequency, types and outcome of racing injuries

• Identify markers for horses at increased risk of injury

• Serve as a data source for research directed at improving safety and preventing injuries

Equine Injury Database

“Now that this system is fully operational, the Thoroughbred Safety Committee enthusiastically recommends an immediate and expanded level of support and participation from all racetracks, state racing authorities, horsemen and veterinarians to join together in the necessary reporting of racehorse injuries to the Equine Injury Database.”

Equine Injury Database

• No fee to participate• 70 tracks have signed up (78% of racing days)

Eight Belles Fallout

May 6, 2008Racehorses Bred for Death

May 6, 2008Derby Death Stirs Call for Change

Breeding Practices are Questioned; ‘At a Crisis State’

May 5, 2008Hindered by a Fragile Makeup

Committee Philosophy

“The Data Shows”

not

“We Believe”

www.jockeyclub.com

Future Study

• Lasix• Racing surfaces• Breeding trends• Field size• Treatment and use of ex-racehorses

Thoroughbred Safety Committee

www.thoroughbredsafety.com

Safety Initiatives

Alan Marzelli

Progress ReportThoroughbred Safety Committee