1. Health & Welfare of the Equine Athletes
2007 RCI ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Health & Welfare
of the
Equine Athletes

2. PANELISTS Dan Fick on Welfare & Safety Summit
Bill Casner on shoeing & toe grabs
Dr. Mary Scollay on uniform on-track injury reporting
Dr. Mick Peterson on racing surfaces

3. WELFARE & SAFETY SUMMIT
Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation coordinated at Keeneland Association last October
Investigate declines in career starts and years raced in racehorses over last 50 years
40 racing industry representatives from owners, breeders, trainers, jockeys, veterinarians, track management, scientists, sales, bloodstock agents
Statistics from Equibase and Jockey Club Information Systems
100+ research reports and articles on injuries, soundness, track surfaces, breeding and training

4. 1950 - 2005 AVERAGE STARTS PER HORSE AVERAGE HORSES PER RACE
AVERAGE FIELD
8.2

5. PARTICIPANTS Bill Casner Jimmy Bell Frank “Scoop” Vessels John Harris
Bayne Welker
Ric Waldman
Rollin Baugh
Seth Hancock
Dell Hancock
Geoffrey Russell
Paul Bowlinger
Doug Bredar
Eual Wyatt
Georganne Hale
Tom Robbins
Ed Vomacka
Tom Ventura
Keith Chamblin
Peggy Hendershot
Ed Bowen
Bob Curran

6. PARTICIPANTS Dr. Gary Lavin Dr. Hiram Polk Dr. Larry Bramlage
Dr. Mary Scollay
Dr. Mick Petersen
Dr. Rick Arthur
Dr. Scot Waterman
Dr. Sue Stover
Dr. Ted Hill
Dr. Tom Brokken
Dr. Wayne McIlwraith
Mitch Taylor
Chris McCarron
Gary Stevens
Mike Smith
Richard Mandella
John Ward
Jesse Wiggington
Nick Nicholson
Bob Duncan

7. STRATEGIC PLANNING FORMAT
First Morning – Public
Presentations by leading veterinarians, surgeons, equine scientists and racing surface engineer
Panel discussions with breeders, trainers, jockeys, bloodstock agents and track management
First Afternoon – Private
Strategic planning sessions with six working groups that identified critical issues relating to fewer starts, and developed suggestion action points
Working group spokespersons presented findings for discussion and strategic analysis

8. PRESENTATIONS 1

9. PANEL DISCUSSIONS 1

10. WORKING GROUPS 1

11. STRATEGIC PLANNING 1

12. STRATEGIC PLANNING FORMAT
First Evening – Private
Dinner open discussions and prioritization of critical issues
Second Morning – Private
Shuffled working groups according to expertise
Developed recommended action plans, responsible parties, resources and timelines
Second Afternoon – Public
Strategic plan released to the media

13. RECOMMENDATIONS
Develop statistics on the durability of blood-lines and matings
Distribute scientific research to industry stakeholders
Examine the use or ban of certain horseshoes
Develop a uniform on-track injury reporting system

14. RECOMMENDATIONS
Require uniform certification and examination for first-time trainers, jockeys, exercise riders, farriers and racing officials
Provide and require continuing education for license renewal of all trainers, jockeys, exercise riders, farriers and racing officials
Develop a standardized method and reporting system for testing all racing surfaces at all tracks
Conduct annual Welfare & Safety Summit

15. STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEES
Hoof Care & Shoeing – Bill Casner
Durability Index – Ed Bowen
On-Track Injury Reporting – Dr. Mary Scollay
Racing Conditions – Eual Wyatt
Racing Surfaces – Dr. Wayne McIlwraith
Licensing & Research – Paul Bowlinger