The New York State
Racing and Wagering Board today announced the selection of a team of nationally
respected industry experts to investigate the circumstances that caused 20
equine fatalities at the Aqueduct Racetrack’s inner track meet between
December 2011 and March 18, 2012.
Last week, the Office of
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo called on The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA)
to name a team of investigators to review the cause or causes of the fatalities,
subject to approval of the Racing and Wagering Board. The resulting New York
Task Force on Racehorse Health and Safety consists of four highly regarded
individuals in the industry who will provide objective research and analysis:
Jerry Bailey, Alan Foreman, Dr. Scott E. Palmer and Dr. Mary Scollay.
John D. Sabini, Chairman
of the New York State Racing and Wagering Board said, “This team of
renowned experts has the knowledge, experience and objectivity to shine a light
on the causes behind these tragic breakdowns. I’m confident that their
findings will help improve the safety and well-being of equine athletes racing
in New York.”
Rick Violette, Jr.,
President of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, Inc.
(NYTHA), said, “We have assembled an outstanding panel of industry
experts, who will conduct a fair and objective investigation to determine if
there is a definitive cause for the increase in the number of catastrophic
breakdowns at Aqueduct this winter. We trust they will analyze all data
meticulously, and New York's
horsemen will give our whole-hearted support to this initiative. No one has a
more vested interest in protecting our horses and our jockeys to the very best
of everyone's abilities than the 5,000 members of the New York Thoroughbred
Horsemen's Association."
In addition to examining
the physical condition of Aqueduct’s inner track, the team will review
and advise on policies relating to:
·
Public disclosures
·
Necropsies
·
Track conditions
·
Pre-race examination of
horses
Additionally, the team
will examine rules and practices relating to:
·
Claiming procedures
·
Veterinary procedures
·
Equine drug use
The Racing and Wagering
Board, NYRA and NYTHA will work cooperatively with The New York Task Force on
Racehorse Health and Safety to ensure that its mission is realized.
To ensure objectivity,
the four members of the New York Task Force on Racehorse Health and Safety
reside outside New York
State.
The Task Force was
assembled with the assistance of NYTHA President Richard A. Violette, Jr., and
includes:
Jerry
Bailey is a retired Hall of
Fame jockey who has participated in more than 30,000 races, many in New York State. A seven-time Eclipse champion
jockey, Bailey has won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes twice
each, as well as the Breeder’s Cup Classic five times. Bailey, who
currently works as a television analyst, served as President of the
Jockeys’ Guild and was instrumental in promoting protective safety vests
for riders.
Alan
Foreman is Chairman and CEO of
Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Associations, Inc., representing more than 20,000
owners and trainers across the country. Mr. Foreman also serves as Vice
Chairman of the Racing Medication & Testing Consortium and as counsel to
many horsemen’s and racing industry organizations.
Dr.
Scott E. Palmer is the hospital
director and staff surgeon at the New Jersey Equine Clinic, where he has
practiced for more than 30 years. He is a past president of the American
Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), which represents more than 10,000
veterinarians and students across the world. He currently serves as Chairman of
the AAEP Racing Committee. Dr. Palmer was also named “Veterinarian of the
Year” twice by the New Jersey Association of Equine Practitioners.
Dr.
Mary Scollay is the equine medical
director of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. Previously, she led a pilot
racehorse injury reporting project that eventually became the Jockey
Club’s Equine Injury Database, which compiles information for analysis to
prevent and reduce racehorse injuries.
The New York Task Force
on Racehorse Health and Safety will begin its work promptly and will provide a
comprehensive review and report its findings and recommendations to NYRA, the
Racing and Wagering Board and the public.