They have started by admitting the widespread use of anabolic steroids on horses by trainers, as well as the use of toe grabs on shoes, and whip abuse.
Almost immediately after the horrific breakdown of Eight Belles in this year's Kentucky Derby, The Jockey Club formed a Thoroughbred Safety Committee on May 8. Among its members are Dell Hancock, whose family-owned Claiborne Farm stood Secretariat throughout his stud career. Also Dr. Larry Bramlage, the sport's leading track veterinarian.
Today, the committee issued its first three recommendations. (There is no central governing body in Thoroughbred racing as there is in football, baseball, basketball, and most of auto racing, so state legislatures and jurisdictions will have to adopt these recommendations individually.)
Here is a link to their press release as published at Bloodhorse.com today. They are recommending a total ban on the use of steroids in the training and racing of Thoroughbreds, and a ban on toe grabs. They are also recommending a series of long-overdue whip reforms.
Because there is no central governing body for the sport, The Jockey Club has also focused on lining up the support of many of the sport's most influential national organizations, including:
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association
Breeders' Cup Ltd.
National Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association
Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association
Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association
Racing Commissioners International
American Association of Equine Practitioners (the national equine veterinary medicine association)
Racing Medication & Testing Consortium
Kentucky Thoroughbred Association
Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders, Inc.
Churchill Downs, Inc.
Keeneland Association
Magna Entertainment Corp.
New York Racing Association
In addition, the current issue of "The Horse" magazine has a report on catastrophic injuries written by Stacey Oke, DVM, MSc. She is a Canadian freelance medical writer, scientific researcher, and licensed veterinarian.
This issue has a photo of Charismatic on the cover after he broke down in the 1999 Belmont Stakes. His left foreleg is being held by his jockey, Chris Antley, who saved the horse's life by pulling him up smoothly, quickly dismounting, and cradling the leg until the vets arrived. Charismatic was saved and is now at stud in Japan. He had won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, and finished 3rd in the Belmont as Chris worked to pull him up.
Tragically, Chris died the following year of a drug overdose. He had battled drug addiction from 1988 to 1990. He was doing great in his comeback a few years later when he and Charismatic lost the Triple Crown in 1999. Chris loved that horse, was extremely emotional when Charismatic got hurt, and Chris never recovered. He was only 34 years old when he died.
Interesting information and progress, and I wish them luck!
That is great news. I also wonder if rasing the racing age up to 4 year olds instead of 3 would give the horses more of a chance to finish growing. I am not that familiar with Thoroughbred horses but with most breeds I did not think they started breaking them until 2. I have a friend that rasises Arabs and she won't start putting them under saddle until they are 3 because she says their legs can withstand it better at 3. I have raised sporting dogs for 35 years and we refrain from heavy exercise until the dog is fully mature at the age of 2 because of possibly bone related health issues.