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Comments from industry leaders:
"The health and safety of all participants in Thoroughbred racing – both human and equine – have always been top priorities at Churchill Downs, the home of the Kentucky Derby, and all of our company's racetracks."

- Robert Evans, President and CEO of Churchill Downs, Inc
"We know that the job is never done where safety is concerned. We fully support the NTRA's development of safety and integrity standards and the annual certification of tracks that meet those standards. On the issues of safety and integrity, we believe we must hold ourselves to only the highest standards. Our customers do."

- Robert Evans, President and CEO of Churchill Downs, Inc
"The horsemen are the people who are ultimately responsible for the day-to-day care and safety of the Thoroughbred. As such, the health and safety of our horses and the integrity of our sport are our highest priorities. We are committed to seeing that these reforms and standards are implemented across the nation."

- Alan Foreman, Chairman of the national Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association
"I commend the Alliance for its aggressiveness in attacking the problems that confront our industry. Our fans and customers deserve action.

- Bill Casner, Chairman and Co-Owner, WinStar Farm
"These reforms have been on the wish list of every horse racing industry stakeholder for many years. The entire industry will be the beneficiary of this very positive step forward.

- Ron Charles, Chief Operating Officer, Magna Entertainment Corporation (MEC)
"The Alliance is a major step forward for the entire industry."

- Sherwood Chillingworth, Executive Vice President, Oak Tree Racing Association
"The entire horseracing industry in Washington state is proud to endorse the reforms put forth by the Alliance."

- Ron Crockett, President, Emerald Downs
"My hope is that the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance is the beginning of a process that identifies and implements long term solutions to the challenges."

- Bill Fasy, Chief Operating Officer, Delaware Park
"The NTRA is to be commended for its leadership in galvanizing the racing industry behind these reforms. They are all needed and, in some cases, long overdue."

- Joe Gorajec, Chairman, Association of Racing Commissioners' International
"The NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance is great news for horseplayers. These reforms, along with the promise to address wagering security, are the kind of common sense ideas the players and fans have been looking for.

- Mike Maloney, Member, Horseplayers’ Coalition Advisory Task Force
"We applaud the NTRA for its leadership in promoting the uniform adoption of best practices and safety measures throughout the industry."

- Alan Marzelli, President, The Jockey Club
"Integrity has been our highest priority at TOBA and the core of our mission.

- Dan Metzger, President, Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association
"Keeneland fully endorses and supports the Safety and Integrity Alliance. The safety and welfare of horse and rider and the integrity of the sport is paramount to the future success of the Thoroughbred industry.

- Nick Nicholson, President, Keeneland
"We are proud to be a member of the NTRA as well as the new Safety and Integrity Alliance, and we applaud the management of the NTRA for taking a leadership role on these important issues."
- Marsha Naify, Chair, Thoroughbred Owners of California
"The AAEP mission is to protect the health and welfare of the horse, and we believe that the goals of this Alliance put the horse first.

- Scott E. Palmer, V.M.D., Chairman, American Association of Equine Practitioners Racing Task Force
"By working together in an ecumenical way, the racing industry can - and will - pass and enforce racing regulations that will result in uniform standards and practices and increase safety of horse and rider."

- Joe Santanna, President and Chairman, National HBPA

More on The Alliance
Accreditation forms: Word doc | PDF
Code of Standards (PDF)
NTRA Safety & Integrity Alliance pledge
Press release of reforms- Oct. 15, 2008
Statements from Key Industry Figures
Download the Alliance brochure (PDF)
The Unwanted Horse Coalition
Thoroughbred Adoption Network


What is the Alliance?
The NTRA Safety & Integrity Alliance is a standing organization whose purpose is to implement safety and integrity standards on a uniform, nationwide basis. The Alliance will function as a certification/accreditation body for the purpose of recognizing and incentivizing compliance by all stakeholders. Similar models have proven successful in the fields of health care and education, among others. The Honorable Tommy G. Thompson, former four-term Governor of Wisconsin and Secretary of U.S. Deptartment of Health and Human Services, serves as independent monitor for the Alliance.

Who belongs to the Alliance?
Alliance membership consists of more than 50 racetracks, every national horsemen's organization, owners, breeders, trainers, veterinarians, jockeys, fans and others.

What is the role of the Independent Monitor?
Governor Thompson will track what the industry is doing and assess industry progress against the benchmarks the industry sets for itself. He will help us maximize transparency and communication to a variety of constituents, including our customers.

How were the integrity standards determined?
The standards are the result of the body of work compiled by a number of industry organizations and scientific experts. They cover five areas: aftercare and transition of retired racehorses, medication and testing, safety research, a safer racing environment and injury prevention and reporting.

How will safety standards and reforms be implemented?
Through mandatory member reporting, on-site inspections and continuing education, the Alliance will provide a framework for the uniform implementation of national safety standards. The standards will evolve and some will be phased in over time. Other standards have yet to be identified and will be brought before the Alliance at the appropriate time. The Alliance will focus its energy on national implementation of the standards.The Alliance also will work with regulators to pass national model rules at the state level and to identify and support national safety research.

What can you do?
You can support the Alliance by donating today. One hundred percent of your contribution will go toward carrying out the mission of the Alliance.

NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance Member Organizations
(As of October 14, 2008)

Racetracks
Aqueduct (NY)
Arlington Park (IL)
Belmont Park (NY)
Calder Race Course (FL)
California Authority of
Racing Fairs (CARF)
  Ferndale (CA)
  Fresno (CA)
  Pleasanton (CA)
  Sacramento (CA)
  San Mateo (CA)
  Santa Rosa (CA)
  Stockton (CA)
  Vallejo (CA)
Canterbury Park (MN)
Charles Town (WV)
Churchill Downs (KY)
Colonial Downs (VA)
Delaware Park (DE)
Del Mar (CA)


Ellis Park (KY)
Emerald Downs (WA)
Fair Grounds (LA)
Fairplex Park (CA)
Finger Lakes (NY)
Golden Gate Fields (CA)
Gulfstream Park (FL)
Hastings Racecourse (Canada)
Hollywood Park (CA)
Hoosier Park (IN)
Indiana Downs (IN)
Keeneland Association (KY)
Kentucky Downs (KY)
Laurel Park (MD)
Lone Star Park (TX)
Louisiana Downs (LA)
Meadowlands Racetrack (NJ)
Monmouth Park (NJ)
Mountaineer Park (WV)
Oak Tree Racing Association (CA)

Penn National (PA)
Philadelphia Park (PA)
Pimlico Race Course (MD)
Pinnacle Race Course (MI)
Portland Meadows (OR)
Presque Isle Downs (PA)
Remington Park (OK)
Ruidoso Downs (NM)
Sam Houston Race Park (TX)
Santa Anita Park(CA)
Saratoga Race Course (NY)
Suffolk Downs (MA)
Sunland Park (NM)
Thistledown (OH)
Turfway Park (KY)
Winners Federation
Woodbine (Canada)
Zia Park (NM)

Horsemen's Organizations
Breeders' Cup Limited
Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association
Kentucky Thoroughbred Association
Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association
The Jockey Club
Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association
Thoroughbred Owners of California
Washington HBPA
Washington Thoroughbred Breeders Association
Others
American Association of Equine Practitioners
The Jockeys' Guild
Racing Medication and Testing Consortium
Thoroughbred Racing Associations


NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance
2525 Harrodsburg Road, Suite 400
Lexington, KY 40504
Phone: (859) 792-6872, Fax: (859) 422-1230
www.NTRAalliance.com

Mike Ziegler, Executive Director
Direct: (859) 422-2668, Cell: (859) 230-3533
E-mail: MZiegler@ntra.com

NTRA Alliance Board of Directors

  • Robert Elliston, Executive Chairman, Midwest Region Independent Tracks
  • Antony Beck, Breeders' Cup Limited
  • Reynolds Bell, Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association
  • Ron Charles, Magna Entertainment Corp.
  • Robert Evans, Churchill Downs, Inc.
  • Bill Fasy, Eastern Region Independent Tracks
  • Alan Foreman, Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association
  • Charles Hayward, New York Racing Association
  • G. Watts Humphrey, Breeders' Cup Limited
  • F. Jack Liebau,  Western Region Independent Tracks
  • Robert Clay, The Jockey Club
  • Marsha Naify, Thoroughbred Owners of California
  • Nick Nicholson, Keeneland Association
  • Joe Santanna, National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association
  • Alex Waldrop, NTRA President and CEO
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