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Horse Racing Safety Panels FormedKentucky and National Group (NTRA) Look at Better Safety MeasuresIn the wake of the tragic loss of Eight Belles in the Kentucky Derby, the state of Kentucky and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association are monitoring safety rules.
Too many losses in high profile races, the most recent being the filly Eight Belles in the most famous race in the world, the Kentucky Derby, have led the state of Kentucky and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association to take a closer look at the industry's safety nets and to seek better safety measures. Prominently pushing for these measures are the two most powerful units in the United States that deal with animal rights and the cause of safety for all animal athletes, the Humane Society of the United States and PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). PETA and HSUS Demand ActionPETA has called for an end to Thoroughbred racing. While that is very unlikely, the industry is scrutinizing its own measures to ensure all steps are being considered to make the Sport of Kings as safe as possible. When PETA demanded immediate reform reaction from the state of Kentucky, NTRA president Alex Waldrop was not far behind in saying the national organization would take a closer look at safety, as the horse itself drives the industry. KHRA, NTRA, Jockey Club, Others RespondKentucky's Robert Beck, Jr., chair of the KHRA (Kentucky Horse Racing Authority), assured the public and PETA that a newly formed equine safety and welfare committee would consider the following issues: racing surfaces and conditions, mediations and horseshoes, jockey safety, and related matters. Beck, Jr. said the committee would work with other groups dealing with the same issues. Two Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summits have been underwritten by the current Jockey Club and Grayson-Jockey Club Foundation. The Jockey Club formed a Thoroughbred Safety Committee. KHTA committee member Dell Hancock, serving jon the Jockey Club Thoroughbred Safety Committee, said she hopes gathered information will be used to put effective regulations in place, although the Kentucky committee has no regulatory power. Waldrop said, "We are coordinating with our member organizations on a number of ongoing safety initiatives to reach actionable findings more quickly and to ensure the broadest possible industry implementation of these findings." Ogden Mills Phipps, chair of the Jockey Club, said the organization is reviewing "every facet" of the industry. Health issues, including medications, breeding practices, and running surfaces, as well as the rules of the sport, are all being discussed. NTRA's Alpine Group lobbyist in Washington, D.C., Greg Means, said PETA and HSUS are well-funded special interest groups of millions of members who wield strong opinion and must be taken seriously in their promotion to reform Thoroughbred racing. PETA is growing and currently claims 1.8 million in memberships. HSUS is 10 million strong. (Resources: Thoroughbred Times.com and the Blood-Horse magazine)
The copyright of the article Horse Racing Safety Panels Formed in Horse Racing is owned by BarbaraAnne Helberg. Permission to republish Horse Racing Safety Panels Formed in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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