Agenda released for racehorse welfare and safety summit

Posted: June 19. 2018

The Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit, to be held June 27 at Keeneland in Kentucky, this year will examine equine injury statistics, jockey safety, the role of trainers in ensuring equine safety, and maintenance of racing surfaces as part of its daylong program.

The complete agenda and list of speakers is available here. A live webcast of the event, which will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT, will be available at the same link.

It will mark the eighth edition of the summit, which has been the impetus for improvements in equine health and welfare including the launch of the Equine Injury Database about 10 years ago. The summit will be presented by The Jockey Club and Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation.

“The Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit has proved to be an effective think-tank for the racing industry’s most critical safety issues,” said Edward L. Bowen, President of Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation. “Between the updates on previous topics and discussions on more recent areas of interest in the racing industry, I am confident that this year’s meeting will continue that trend and effect positive change to support the sport’s athletes.”

Other topics to be addressed are the impact of weather on race delays; disaster planning and execution of a plan; and the Thoroughbred’s versatility as a sport horse.