LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Before the fastest two minutes in sports can be ran, officials tried to tackle an issue on Friday that worried both the equine world and spectators in 2023: safety.
Twelve horses died at Churchill Downs last year, leaving many questioning the safety at the historic track. Officials moved the rest of the spring meet to Ellis Park in Henderson, Kentucky as a result.
Tuesday, the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) said although things were learned from the tragedies at the track, the comprehensive investigation found commonalities linking the horse deaths.
"When we say that there is not one singular factor that caused the breakdowns, it doesn't mean that we don't know what the risk factors are that contribute to breakdowns," CEO Lisa Lazarus said.
Lazarus pointed out that much was gleaned from examining the different horses' medical and training history.
As a result, several of the new rules and procedures Churchill Downs released on Friday include changes to veterinary practices before races.
If you notice any violation of the rules, you can report it to HISA by texting (855) 901-8477 or calling (888) 714-4498, email it to the track's Integrity Department at horsesafety@kyderby.com, or calling the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission at (859) 246-2040.
RELATED: Racing authority reports equine fatality rate of 1.23 per 1,000 at tracks under its jurisdiction
Here are the new and updated rules:
- Horses participating in the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby must be on the grounds no later than 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 27, and must remain on the grounds until after the running of their race, pending an unforeseeable emergency.
- Horses participating in the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby will have 24-hour barn security as well as 24-hour video surveillance starting at 11 a.m. on Saturday through post time for their respective races.
- Horses that have been beaten by 12 lengths or more in five consecutive starts will be ineligible to race until approved by the CDI Equine Medical Director to return.
- Horses shall be limited to four starts in a rolling 8-week period.
- All first-time starters 4-years-old and older or 3-year-olds and older with no race within 365 days are required to have an official veterinary exam. In addition, horses that have not raced within 150 days, but less than 365 days, may be required to have an evaluation by the CDI Equine Medical Director prior to entry.
- Waiver Claiming Rule allows a trainer to enter a horse in a claiming race but be ineligible to be claimed providing the horse has been laid off and has not started for a minimum of 120 days since its last race, and the horse is entered for a claiming price equal to or greater than the price at which it last started.
- HIWU will conduct out-of-competition blood and hair samples of horses competing in the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks as well as undercard races before entries are taken and will be sent to an HIWU certified laboratory for immediate testing. Other jurisdictions will also obtain out-of-competition samples on behalf of HISA/HIWU from horses that are not stabled in Kentucky.
- All veterinary treatment records must be submitted to HISA and are available to regulatory veterinarians for review.
- Veterinarians shall not have contact with an entered horse within 24 hours of post time unless approved by the regulatory veterinarian.
- No medications are permitted within 48 hours of the race. In the event of a medical emergency, the Stewards will authorize treatment and the horse will be scratched.
- Any owner or trainer previously stabled at a CDI track who sells or transports a horse for purposes of slaughter will have stalls permanently revoked at all CDI properties.
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