| The NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance will host the inaugural NTRA Professional Education Seminar—Presented by Pfizer Animal Health and Keeneland on Tuesday, October 19 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky. Attendance at the seminar will help satisfy continuing education requirements for racetracks as mandated by the Alliance's Code of Standards.
The Seminar will feature expert speakers from across the country who will discuss health and safety topics targeted specifically to trainers, aftercare organizations, track medical directors, racing officials, farriers, and regulatory and association veterinarians. An agenda and list of speakers will be released at a later date.
"The NTRA Professional Education Seminar will assemble leading experts in one location so that attendees can learn about the latest issues, developments and techniques pertaining to human and equine safety in Thoroughbred racing," said Mike Ziegler, Executive Director of the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance. "All participants will find this one-day gathering extremely helpful in their professional development. We thank Keeneland and Pfizer Animal Health for their invaluable support in establishing the Seminar."
"As an avid supporter of the NTRA and its Safety and Integrity Alliance, Pfizer Animal Health is proud to present this first-ever Professional Education Seminar," said Kristin Ruff, Sr. Equine Marketing Manager, U.S. equine business, at Pfizer Animal Health. "As equine health and safety research advances, it is crucial that those working directly with the Thoroughbred stay abreast of the latest information available."
"I'm very pleased that we have the opportunity to host this important new Seminar," said Nick Nicholson, President and CEO of Keeneland. "As the Thoroughbred industry strives to optimize the safety of the human and equine athletes who make our sport great, it is important that the working knowledge of all those around them stays completely current."
For additional information about the NTRA Professional Education seminar, including how to register, contact Casey Hamilton at (859) 422-2627. Discounted hotel rooms for Seminar attendees are being held at the Crowne Plaza in Lexington.
The Alliance, formed in October 2008 with the goal of establishing national uniform standards in the areas of safety and integrity, includes 55 racetracks in North America and every major national horsemen's organization. Alliance certification standards cover six broad areas: injury reporting and prevention; creating a safer racing environment; aftercare and transition of retired racehorses; uniform medication, testing and penalties; safety research; and wagering security. Within those six categories, specific standards focus on areas including:
- Systematic reporting of equine injuries
- Aftercare of racehorses
- Pre- and post-race veterinary examinations
- Post-mortem examinations
- Health and safety of jockeys
- Riding crops and their use
- Horse shoes and hoof care
- Safety research
- Safety equipment for jockeys and horse handlers
- Exogenous Anabolic Steroids
- Alkalinizing agents (TCO2)
- On-track emergency medical care for humans and equines
- Out-of-competition testing
- Freezing and retrospective testing of post race samples
- Continuing education
- Security assessment and training
- Totalizator technology and "stop wagering" protocols
- Wagering incident investigation
The NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance is a standing organization whose purpose is to establish standards and practices to promote safety and integrity in horseracing and to secure their implementation. Information on the Alliance, including the Alliance Code of Standards, can be found at www.NTRAalliance.com.
The Honorable Tommy G. Thompson, former four-term Governor of Wisconsin and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, serves as independent monitor of the Alliance and will provide public reports on Alliance progress in instituting safety and integrity standards.
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