Joe Drape's commentary on the current state of safety and integrity reforms within Thoroughbred racing and breeding contained errors and exaggerations and ignored irrefutable facts that did not support his premise.
In fact, much has changed for the better in Thoroughbred racing over the last several years with regard to implementation of integrity reforms.
In the past 10 months alone, anabolic steroids have been effectively banned in the racing jurisdictions representing 99.6 percent of pari-mutuel handle on Thoroughbred horse races. We continue to work toward a 100 percent ban.
Nearly 80 racetracks are participating in a new national injury reporting system that will provide comprehensive data for the scientific research our industry is proactively supporting to foster a safer racing environment.
National standards have been adopted with regard to horseshoe and hoof care that will lead to fewer equine injuries and greater health and safety for both horse and rider.
More than 55 racetracks – representing more than 90 percent of the Thoroughbred pari-mutuel handle in the U.S. – as well as owners, breeders, trainers, jockeys, every major horsemen's organization, veterinarians, regulators, and even fans, have pledged their support to the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance.
The Alliance uses an accreditation system similar to that utilized in industries like health care and education. The accreditation system is the most appropriate to horse racing, which, as a legal gambling industry, is regulated on a state-by-state basis. This does slow down the speed of nationwide implementation of standards, but it is unquestionably the most appropriate and effective means to implement reform in state-regulated industries like horse racing.
Alliance members are instituting uniform policies relating to injury reporting; medication; testing and penalties; safety research; a safer racing environment; and aftercare of retired racehorses. In addition, we are implementing reforms in specific areas that include pre- and post-race veterinarian exams, out-of-competition testing, security and testing protocols, and use of the riding crop, among others.
An independent monitor – four-term Wisconsin Governor and former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tommy Thompson – has been retained to measure the industry's progress. The entire process, which has included input from all segments of the sport, has been open and transparent.
Some Alliance members – including Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby – have instituted additional reforms specific to their facilities and racing programs.
Mr. Drape stated that in Europe, Asia and Dubai, no race day medication is allowed while portraying U.S. medication policies as a patchwork quilt of less than ideal regulatory oversight. The fact is that we have achieved an extraordinary level of uniformity in the U.S. where drugs and therapeutic medications are concerned.
In addition, but for one therapeutic race day medication – Lasix, which is the only medication available to mitigate the effects of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage – the goals of regulation are identical between Europe, Asia, the United States and the rest of the racing world. The United States allows the judicious use of therapeutic medication for the humane treatment of the horse while achieving no effect on the day of the race.
Moreover, U.S. protocols and testing procedures for illegal medications are much more stringent than any other major sport, anywhere in the world. Few if any of the drug positives in horse racing would be considered violations in any other sport. By analogy, anyone who had a cup of coffee or took an off-the-shelf cold medication would fail a post-race drug test in the U.S.
Drape's contention that "scientific and anecdotal evidence suggesting that breeding for the marketplace rather than the racetrack and relying too heavily on medications have put Thoroughbreds at risk" might be accurate if he removed the word "scientific." The fact is that no scientific evidence exists to support his contention, but much scientific evidence does support humane and proper use of therapeutic medication for our athletes. The NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance and its stakeholder organizations have initiated a standing scientific research program, one that will address a wide range of questions that relate to health and safety for our equine and human athletes.
Have we addressed every problem, accomplished every objective and answered every scientific question? Of course not, but our industry is working diligently on safety and integrity reforms, even if some choose not to acknowledge it.
Alex Waldrop
President and CEO,
National Thoroughbred Racing Association
|