Sudden equine death to be main focus at Welfare and Safety Summit

Sudden death in racehorses will be the focus of a panel during this year’s Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit, scheduled for June 25 in Lexington, the organizers of the event announced on Thursday.

Sudden deaths, which are relatively rare among fatalities in racehorses, have become a significant topic of inquiry in racing over the past several years as the sport has widened its focus on equine safety and injuries. The Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, which organizes the event, said that the panel will focus on “what we know and what we need to learn about sudden deaths in racehorses.”

This year’s event will be the 11th summit on welfare and safety. The day-long conference has traditionally been held in the Keeneland sales pavilion, but this year’s event will be held at the University of Kentucky.

Other presentations at the event include a panel discussion with equine medical directors and state veterinarians on “best practices, why rules work, and the harmonization of pre-race inspections,” and an update on the progress California has made on reducing equine fatalities since 2019, when a spate of racehorse deaths at Santa Anita drew widespread mainstream media attention.

Dr. Tim Parkin, an epidemiologist at Bristol Veterinary School, will discuss the latest findings from the Equine Injury Database, which has been tracking fatalities since 2009 as an industry-funded project. Since the launch of the database, equine fatalities at North American racetracks have dropped 35 percent.

In addition, Dr. Sara Langsam, a board member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, will provide an update on wearable technologies. There will also be presentations on aftercare and racetrack surfaces. A new organization, Light Up Racing, will also offer a presentation on its efforts “to protect the future of Thoroughbred horse racing through transparency, awareness, community, and accountability.”

Annise Montplaisir, the equine education coordinator of the Kentucky Equine Education Project Foundation, will emcee the event.

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