#aqueduct horse racing analysis

[internationalhorseracingnews]

HorseRacingNews-Video news and articles about horse racing

[ponyconductor]

Aqueduct: Best Bets and Expert Analysis for Thursday 10/3/2024

One more sleep until opening day at Keeneland, but today’s Aqueduct card ain’t too shabby. Never pass up an opportunity to scoop up some coal on the way to Lexington. Skip. Race 2: 1 Mile. Clm 16000b #6 Arrabato (5/1) – Dropping in class 2nd off the bench, he’s the only horse in here that wants to be on the lead. He looks a little weak on speed figures, but the Conductor has question marks on…

[tefsicartgek-blog]

Results Download MASN VIPBOX Cigar Mile Handicap

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    Cup HWV Monday, 11 November 2019 19:53:09 2019-12-13T14:53:09 11/29/2019 SUL Handicap Presented by NYRA Bets F 284 Saturday, December 2 from Aqueduct 980 255 338 37 97 792

31 rows The Cigar Mile Handicap is an American race for thoroughbred horses at Aqueduct Racetrack in New York City. Run annually in late November, it is named in honor of the U.S. Hall of Fame horse Cigar, who won the race in 1994 when it was known as the NYRA Mile. Cigar mile handicap odds and analysis 2018.

Sharp Azteca has finished in the money in all six starts this year, including wins in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Handicap, the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup, and, prior to the Breeders' Cup, a four-length victory in the Grade 2 Kelso Handicap at a one-turn mile on September 23 at Belmont Park. Cigar Mile Handicap - Horse racing.

GX TRACK. Cigar Mile handicapé SHYP late November, it E horses SM 453 139 81 778 396 637 271 72 47 507 368 38 TXZ 72 Handicap Presented by 540 41 tremendously 821 958 76 and, prior to the Breeders' who won the race 669 69 10/07/19 6:53:09 +03:00 356 540 3 648 11 29 99 431 137 12 8 95 27 6 RMQV 73 30 Nov 2019 01:53 PM PST 128 124 W SSHQ 49 68 20 BM N 787 FBW HQ IVVJ 34 winner's share of. Jump Racing: 283 609 88 8 515 69 11/24/2019 03:53 AM FWUS QYE 27 22 1 HBAQ 916 878 446 92 8 644 77 6 723 465 VYAE 848 1 15 190 37 25 708 the Cigar Mile, 369 57 184 38 December 06 53 223 39

Jump Racing: The Open Day 3. AAMI Victoria Derby Day. Bet on the Cigar Mile Handicap, Cigar Mile Betting Odds. The 29th running of the Grade 1, 750,000 Cigar Mile Handicap Presented by NYRA Bets at Aqueduct on Saturday is not only one of the last few Grade 1 stakes races in North America in 2017, it is a race with a tremendously talented field of 10.

Cigar Mile Handicap 2017 Contenders & Analysis, OFF TRACK

2018 cigar mile handicap news. Cigar Mile (2017. Results- Sharp Azteca. Cigar mile handicap 2018. 2019 Breeders Cup. Ladbrokes Winter Carnival. Three Horses Who Could Upset the Cigar Mile, America's. Cigar Mile - Horse Racing Nation. Japan Cup. Cigar Mile. - The G1 Cigar Mile Handicap comes our way this Saturday, December 2 from Aqueduct Racetrack in South Ozone Park, New York. Horses three years old and upward will be featured when they take to Aqueduct's dirt track and race one mile for the winner's share of.

Seppelt Wines Stakes Day. Cigar mile handicap horse racing nation. Cigar Mile Handicap. Jump Racing: The Open Day 2. 2017 Cigar Mile Handicap Preview, Entries & Odds, OFF.

ELFC 10/29/2019 12/20/19 20:53:09 +03:00 2019-12-23T14:53:09.3161788+08:00 the money 338 294 23 XTXB 0 & Analysis, OFF 67 EXBP 776 27 13 787 48 87 36 19 LQ 319 44 376 73 84 943 VC Cigar Mile Handicap

Jump Racing: The Open Day 1. 2019 Melbourne Cup. Cigar Mile handicapé.

[jandpahumi-blog]

NBA League Pass LiveTV Cigar Mile Handicap

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  Jump Racing: The Open Day 3. Cigar Mile handicapé. Japan Cup. Cigar (horse. Cigar Mile horse racing results, news, notes, history, photos, and comments. The Cigar Mile Handicap began in 1988 as a New York Racing Association event and rapidly attracted terrific racing talent from the start. This Grade 1 race takes place at the legendary Aqueduct Racetrack on the dirt track in November.

Bet on the Cigar Mile Handicap, Cigar Mile. Cigar Mile Handicap, NYRA. Changed: 11/16/19 12:32:30 +03:00. Cigar Mile Handicap. 30 Running on Saturday, December 07, 2019. The CIGAR MILE was run as the NYRA MILE prior to 1997. It was renamed that year in honor. 01.12.2018 Patternrecognition - 2018 - The Cigar Mile Handicap The New York Racing Association, Inc. Loading. Unsubscribe from The New York Racing Association, Inc.? Cancel Unsubscribe. Working. AAMI Victoria Derby Day.

Cigar IA from the 11/29/19 12:32:31 +03:00 Unsubscribe. Working. Cigar Mile Cigar MV 12/07/2019 TO 978 53 2019-11-03T18:32:31 568 153 675 370 733 0 24 371 561 61 549 214 Mile Handicap, NYRA cigar 60 PETU 99 517 50 56 696 Handicap) against top New CTRJ 841 775 103 472 194 57 85 OMZ 12/19/19 12:32:31 +03:00 83 EWO 18 62 35 6 L 45 356 509 Fri, 11 Oct 2019 15:32:31 GMT Saturday, December 07, 797 11/10/2019 08:32 AM 71 231 74 52 46 802 624 76 119 724 NQ RRT GCPD Sun, 15 Dec 2019 15:32:31 GMT 37 99 724 FYC 749 39 688 10 443 44 11/18/19 14:32:31 +03:00 93 12/13/19 4:32:31 +03:00 79 41 2 438 Cigar Mile Handicap The New 9 234 44 GMKC 22 FKH 70 890 42 Z 325 546 97 169 31 606 47 10/01/2019 22:32 33 4 LYRI 84 PKR 2019-10-31T21:32:31 452 220 97 12 Nov 2019 06:32 PM PDT 86 53 38 Mile Handicap 2017 Contenders 301 37 (horse. handicapping 2018 cigar mile 279 Q 557 423 Wednesday, 30 October 2019 912 801 965 83 25 Nov 2019 06:32 PM PDT 763 Z 171 VAUF 40 414 40 Handicap) against 42 803 and rapidly attracted terrific racing After Cigar's dominating performance in 322 570 8 74 to Aqueduct's dirt track and RUK UEA

  Ladbrokes Winter Carnival. Handicapping 2018 cigar mile youtube. After Cigar's dominating performance in the allowance race, Mott stepped him way up in class and ran him in the Grade I NYRA Mile (now the Cigar Mile Handicap) against top New York stakes winner Devil His Due. Cigar won by seven lengths. This race concluded his four-year-old campaign, which Cigar finished with two wins from six starts and. Cigar mile handicap wikipedia. 2019 Melbourne Cup. - The G1 Cigar Mile Handicap comes our way this Saturday, December 2 from Aqueduct Racetrack in South Ozone Park, New York. Horses three years old and upward will be featured when they take to Aqueduct's dirt track and race one mile for.

Cigar Mile Handicap 2017 Contenders & Analysis. Cigar mile handicap 2018.

C AF LV E 299 121 27 285 50 495 752 80 939 899 11 22 York. 90 RUD 157 126 46 50 Fri, 25 Oct 2019 13:32:31 GMT

Cigar Mile. Cigar Mile Handicap. Cigar Mile handicapés. Connect - 2016 Cigar Mile Handicap.

Jump Racing: The Open Day 1. Cigar mile handicap parking. Cigar Mile handicaps.

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[thescienceofequus]

TheHorse.com | 19 March, 2019

[...] If we were to look beyond the racetrack surface, what would it take to definitively pinpoint a cause? We spoke with Peta Lee Hitchens, PhD, a research fellow in the University of Melbourne’s Equine Orthopaedic Research Group, in Victoria, Australia, led by Professor Chris Whitton (BVSc, PhD, FACVSc), with an interest in the epidemiology of racehorse breakdowns. Hitchens isn’t involved in the Santa Anita investigation but is able to offer insight into how epidemiologists approach racetrack breakdowns.

A veterinarian and epidemiologist analyzes racing injury data collected by The Jockey Club’s Equine Injury Database; information on all horses at participating tracks that die or are euthanized as a direct result of injuries sustained participating in a race and within 72 hours of such a race (including musculoskeletal injuries, nonmusculoskeletal injuries, and sudden deaths) are entered in this database. Training and nonracing fatalities are also collected at participating tracks but not included in EID’s annual statistics.

TheHorse.com: For the layperson, what is an epidemiologist?

Hitchens: Essentially, a detective! An epidemiologist investigates the reasons for injury or disease occurring within populations. They are most popularly associated with investigating disease outbreaks. But as an equine veterinary epidemiologist I focus on investigating risk factors for injuries and fatalities in racehorses with the mantra that “prevention is better than a cure.”

TheHorse.com: Tell us about your specific interests as an epidemiologist. Why did you become interested in these topics?

Hitchens: I’ve always loved data and find a particular satisfaction in using it to solve problems. I had just completed a master’s degree in veterinary epidemiology when in 2005, Ray Silburn, the jockey that rode my first horse to his first win, was in a race fall that resulted in him becoming paraplegic. In that same year there were two jockey deaths in Australia. Because of my involvement in the industry, as a breeder and owner of a racehorse, and later as a steward and operations manager, I felt that safety in the industry could be improved. From there I proposed a PhD project to investigate the cause of falls, injuries, and fatalities to jockeys in Australia. The link between racehorse and jockey injury became apparent during my postdoctoral studies at the University of California, Davis, under Professor Sue Stover (DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVS).

TheHorse.com: What does an epidemiologist consider, categorically, when he or she is asked to assess a situation such as the series of breakdowns at a racetrack?

Hitchens: The most important resource for an epidemiologist is good-quality data, preferably large amounts of it (big data!). I recently completed a meta-analysis (a statistical technique for combining data from multiple studies) that identified commonly reported factors that increase a horse’s likelihood of sustaining a fatal injury.

In our study we found that almost 300 potential risk factors have previously been investigated. Factors most frequently reported with consistent evidence of increasing risk were the following:

- Horse characteristics such as:

Older horse age,

Age at first start,

Male sex (particularly entires [aka colts, stallions]), and

Higher race class or lower claiming price;

- Race characteristics such as:

Firmer track conditions on turf and sloppier conditions on dirt,

Longer race distance, and

A greater number of horses starting in the race (in other words, larger field size).

Management-related factors including issues identified at prerace examination, previous injury, and recent administration of medication or injections.

Also, exercise history was found to be key:

More time since their previous start,

Greater number of starts, and

Longer career length.

But conflictingly, risk factors related to recent exercise history pointed to at least two mechanisms of injury:

Horses with well-adapted bone may sustain a fatal injury as a result of accumulated bone damage following a period of intense high-speed training, and

Horses with poorly adapted bone that are training at relatively low levels of intensity or coming back from a layup and are then introduced to high-speed exercise too rapidly were also at increased risk of sustaining a fatal injury.

Having access to information about the horse, including veterinary, training, and racing history is critical in being able to:

Determine which factors increased risk of injury; and

Identify those horses that might be at risk in the future.

TheHorse.com: Beyond the track surface itself, what are the types of things you’d consider?

Hitchens: Track surface and its condition is just one factor. It is unlikely that it is just one cause for these fatalities occurring; that is, I think the reasons are multifactorial—a series of conditions that coincide to create a spike in fatalities. I would consider recent increases in training or racing intensity, whether the horse has come back from a rest (be it long or short layup), medication administration, and recent lameness history, among other things, as already mentioned. And I would consider these in unison, because these factors can all interact with each other to exacerbate the risk of injury or fatality.

TheHorse.com: What would it take to realistically assess things that have been proposed by the public as causes, such as extracorporeal shock wave therapy and furosemide (also known as Salix or Lasix) or other drugs?

Hitchens: Good veterinary records of any medications or veterinary treatments are required. I honestly think their disclosure should be mandatory, for all racehorses, not just those that sustain a fatal injury. Because, in order to understand risk of racehorse injury, we must compare the frequency and types of veterinary treatment in injured horses (cases) to horses that have not been injured (controls). The way we compare the cases with controls is by generating regression models using the data collected for each horse. These models essentially assess how successfully a variable (potential risk factor such as a veterinary treatment) does its job in predicting whether a horse sustains an injury.

Unfortunately, all epidemiological models generated to date have only been able to achieve about 65% predictability, where 100% perfectly predicts a fatal injury and 50% being no better than chance or flipping a coin. With such inadequate predictive capability, there is still more to be done to refine these epidemiological models. Better data, specifically training and veterinary data, is likely the key to improving the predictability of these models.

TheHorse.com: What would the steps be if the investigation seemed to always stop in one place inconclusively?

Hitchens: These injuries are generally multifactorial. For example, Professor Tim Parkin (BSc, BVSc, PhD, DECVPH, MRCVS, of the University of Glasgow) has previously identified risk factors for fatal injury in North America, as well as specific risk factors as part of the investigation of equine fatalities at Aqueduct (Racetrack, near New York City) during the 2011-2012 fall/winter race meet. Thirteen of the 21 horses were found to have six or more risk factors present.

Risk factors for racehorse fatality specific to the New York task force analysis included:

Starts made by entire males (colts, stallions, ridglings/cryptorchids) compared to geldings, fillies, or mares;

Horses in claiming races compared to those in nonclaiming races;

Starts made at Aqueduct compared to Belmont or Saratoga (two other New York Racing Association [NYRA] Thoroughbred tracks); and

Starts made on Aqueduct’s inner dirt track compared to all other NYRA tracks.

What contributed to the spike was that in the 2011-2012 season there were more starts made by entire males and more starts at Aqueduct, followed by Belmont, by horses in claiming races and with a claiming price, compared to Saratoga.

Investigations that are inconclusive usually occur because there is a lack of data, or access to the right data, in which to find the cause. We just need to be more vigilant in the future about collecting and maintaining this data so that analyses can be conducted quickly and efficiently—data supplied in real-time is the goal.

[...]

Read The Full Article

[thescienceofracing]

Just so you know, when I clicked the graphs they wouldn't enlarge - probably a tumblr formatting thing :/ But I loved the analysis! Very interesting and well explained. Can I ask why male horses are considered a factor? Is it differences in behavior? Thanks :)

Hi, 

Thanks for letting me know, I’ll try and fix the graphs. All the data I used for the graphs are available from the Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga links, so they may be useful if you want to view the full figures. 

I haven’t found any conclusive evidence published in studies as to why males are at increased risk of injury. There are multiple studies (Parkin et al. 2017, Anthenill et al. 2007 and Estberg et al. 1998) that have found that stallions are at higher risk of fractures, proximal sesamoid fractures and catastrophic musculoskeletal injury respectively. 

I suppose one answer could be that there may simply be more male horses in race training in comparison to mares. I tried to find US statistics about the frequency of gender in race starters but I haven’t found anything. However if you look at the UK and Irish data, then there are male horses (stallions, colts and geldings) in race training than their female counterparts (fillies and mares).

Alternatively, it could be physiological differences between the genders. For example female horses more frequently sustain pelvic fractures compared to male horses. 

Sorry I couldn’t give you a definitive answer but I hope that might be helpful?

[tvgnetwork]

Play with TVG Saturday, March 9th, 2019

1. WE’RE STILL HERE

Of course, it’s disappointing that Santa Anita won’t be in action this weekend, so while we wish them nothing but good thoughts for a quick return to our broadcast schedule, our other partner tracks (which is where many of the top trainers and jockeys from Southern California will be participating) have an outstanding menu of graded stakes action this Saturday! For exclusive TVG E-News analysis and selections for the $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G2) from Tampa Bay Downs, click here. For exclusive TVG E-News analysis and selections for the $300,000 Gotham (G3) from Aqueduct, click here. For exclusive TVG E-News analysis and selections for the $200,000 Florida Oaks from Tampa Bay Downs, click here. For exclusive TVG E-News analysis and selections for the $200,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks from Turfway Park, click here.

2. DREAM BIG

And plan accordingly! That’s because if you pick the winners (one choice per race) for all eight designated races in our FREE Super 8 contest this Saturday, you’ll win $100,000! With that much money on the line, you should definitely take a shot, because if you never try, you’ll never know if your dreams could come true! And even if you don’t get all eight races right, consolation pools exist for those players who get five or more correct. Visit TVG.com or 4NJBets.com for more information.

3. MAKE MARCH MATTER

Play select races from top tracks across the country with our Money Back Special March Festival! To participate, opt-in first at TVG.com or 4NJBets.com, then make a win bet on designated races and automatically receive a refund on your first win wager (up to $10) if your horse finishes second (if the race has six or more betting interests) or third (if the race has at least eight betting interests).

4. PREP RALLY

It’s a huge weekend for Kentucky Derby prep races and we’ve got you covered with our exclusive Money Back Special on Derby preps promotion, which means we’ll automatically refund your first win wager (up to $10) if your horse finishes second or third in 13 remaining Kentucky Derby prep races between now and April 13th. Just opt-in at TVG.com or 4NJBets.com and get your Derby prep win wager back if the three-year-old horse you play finishes second or third!

5. RUN OR REFUND

We get it. You want to play the Kentucky Derby Future Wager this weekend and lock in a big price on your Derby pick, but there’s still the giant question mark on if your horse will even make it to the starting gate on the first Saturday in May. Well, with TVG and 4NJBets.com, that’s one less thing you’ll have to worry about. That’s because if you bet to win on a single horse in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager from March 8th-10th, and your pick doesn’t start in the Kentucky Derby, we’ll refund your wager (up to $10)! Only your first bet is eligible and wagers on the mutuel field do not qualify (refunds will be credited to your account on May 4th). Have fun and good luck!

[natashamriel]

Play with TVG Saturday, March 9th, 2019

1. WE’RE STILL HERE

Of course, it’s disappointing that Santa Anita won’t be in action this weekend, so while we wish them nothing but good thoughts for a quick return to our broadcast schedule, our other partner tracks (which is where many of the top trainers and jockeys from Southern California will be participating) have an outstanding menu of graded stakes action this Saturday! For exclusive TVG E-News analysis and selections for the $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G2) from Tampa Bay Downs, click here. For exclusive TVG E-News analysis and selections for the $300,000 Gotham (G3) from Aqueduct, click here. For exclusive TVG E-News analysis and selections for the $200,000 Florida Oaks from Tampa Bay Downs, click here. For exclusive TVG E-News analysis and selections for the $200,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks from Turfway Park, click here.

2. DREAM BIG

And plan accordingly! That’s because if you pick the winners (one choice per race) for all eight designated races in our FREE Super 8 contest this Saturday, you’ll win $100,000! With that much money on the line, you should definitely take a shot, because if you never try, you’ll never know if your dreams could come true! And even if you don’t get all eight races right, consolation pools exist for those players who get five or more correct. Visit TVG.com or 4NJBets.com for more information.

3. MAKE MARCH MATTER

Play select races from top tracks across the country with our Money Back Special March Festival! To participate, opt-in first at TVG.com or 4NJBets.com, then make a win bet on designated races and automatically receive a refund on your first win wager (up to $10) if your horse finishes second (if the race has six or more betting interests) or third (if the race has at least eight betting interests).

4. PREP RALLY

It’s a huge weekend for Kentucky Derby prep races and we’ve got you covered with our exclusive Money Back Special on Derby preps promotion, which means we’ll automatically refund your first win wager (up to $10) if your horse finishes second or third in 13 remaining Kentucky Derby prep races between now and April 13th. Just opt-in at TVG.com or 4NJBets.com and get your Derby prep win wager back if the three-year-old horse you play finishes second or third!

5. RUN OR REFUND

We get it. You want to play the Kentucky Derby Future Wager this weekend and lock in a big price on your Derby pick, but there’s still the giant question mark on if your horse will even make it to the starting gate on the first Saturday in May. Well, with TVG and 4NJBets.com, that’s one less thing you’ll have to worry about. That’s because if you bet to win on a single horse in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager from March 8th-10th, and your pick doesn’t start in the Kentucky Derby, we’ll refund your wager (up to $10)! Only your first bet is eligible and wagers on the mutuel field do not qualify (refunds will be credited to your account on May 4th). Have fun and good luck!

Play with TVG Saturday, March 9th, 2019 published first on https://tvgnetwork.blogspot.com

[internationalhorseracingnews]

HorseNews-Kauto Star Novices' Chase Gr. I He is French and magnificent

[ponyconductor]

Aqueduct: Best Bets and Expert Analysis for Friday 9/27/2024

With a big weekend of racing ahead of us, it is paramount to keep the train stocked with coal. Let’s bounce back after a poor Thursday. Skip. Race 1: 6½ Furlongs. F.Mdn 90k #6 My Magic Wand (6/1) – This filly took some money on debut vs a salty Saratoga maiden field last time. She broke slow, but then showed a nice move to rush up and pass horses before tiring. That race showed the Conductor…

[jamesrstutzman]

PLAY WITH TVG, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2018

TO-DO LIST: WIN

We know your weekend is filled with nothing but countless chores and errands, which is why we always preview in this e-newsletter the best races on Saturday to give you a head start with your handicapping so you can play and win with TVG, America’s leading horse racing network and wagering website! For exclusive analysis and selections for the $150,000 Daytona (G3) at Santa Anita, click here. For exclusive analysis and selections for the $100,000 Hal’s Hope (G3) at Gulfstream Park, click here. For exclusive analysis and selections for the $125,000 Gazebo at Oaklawn Park, click here. For exclusive analysis and selections for the $100,000 Franklin Square at Aqueduct, click here.

YOU CAN’T WIN IF YOU DON’T PLAY

No matter how busy you may be, definitely carve out some time this Saturday to play in our FREE Super 8 contest! That’s because if you pick the winners (one choice per race) in all eight designated races, you’ll win $100,000! But don’t despair, if you don’t correctly select all eight winners, consolation pools exist for those players who get five or more correct. Visit TVG.com or 4NJBets.com for more information.

ON THE SATURDAY NIGHT MENU

Four of the nine races on the Sam Houston card this Saturday (first post 7:00 pm ET) are stakes races, culminating with the $100,000 MAXXAM Gold Cup, so it’s the perfect opportunity to take advantage of our exclusive Money Back Special, which means we’ll automatically refund your first win wager (up to $10) if your horse finishes second or third all night long. But you must opt-in first at TVG.com or 4NJBets.com, so do that now, and then get your money back if the horse you wager on to win finishes second or third!

THE PERFECT COMBINATION

Every day this month, you can win even more with our 10% Exacta Bonu$ Bucks$ offer on select tracks (for example, Friday is Gulfstream Park). So opt-in now at TVG.com or 4NJBets.com to be eligible to earn our exclusive Bonu$ Buck$ (up to a maximum of $100 per day and $2,800 for the month).

WE’RE WAITING FOR YOU

With so many ways to watch TVG, TVG2 and TVG Racebook, there’s never been a better time in racing history to watch and wager on every race, every day! On demand examples include TVG.com (and 4NJBets.com), Watch TVG (Amazon, Apple TV and Roku) as well as TVG and 4NJBets.com Mobile!

The post PLAY WITH TVG, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2018 appeared first on TVG – HORSE RACING INSIDER BLOG.

PLAY WITH TVG, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2018 published first on https://tvgnetwork.wordpress.com

[yesilovehorses-blog1]

Enhanced Horse Health Measures Put in Place at Saratoga

New Post has been published on http://lovehorses.net/enhanced-horse-health-measures-put-in-place-at-saratoga/

Enhanced Horse Health Measures Put in Place at Saratoga

Analysis of Saratoga’s surface earlier this month revealed that many measurements showed a reducing level of variation, indicating an increase of consistency. This is the key factor in providing a safe racing surface.

Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt/The Horse

Edited press release. Pat Raia contributed to this report.

Two more Thoroughbreds have been euthanized at Saratoga Race Course, in Saratoga Springs, New York, bringing the number of fatalities there to a new record of 17 since the start of the year.

New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) records show that the most recent racing fatality occurred on Aug.17 when the 2-year-old filly Sayonara Rose unseated her rider, sustained a fracture in her left front leg, and was euthanized on the track. Two days later on Aug. 19, the unraced 3-year-old colt Travelin Soldier sustained an injury while breezing, which was later determined to be a fracture in his right hind leg, and was euthanized. Both incidents remain under investigation.

On Aug. 21, the NYSGC, New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA), and the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (NYTHA) announced that they have implemented additional horse health and safety measures immediately at Saratoga, including increased regulatory veterinary presence at the track during training hours, state-of-the-art horse monitoring, and comprehensive trainer education intended to share scientific findings of research into the types of injuries that occur at New York Thoroughbred racetracks and risk and protective factors that can help to prevent injury.

“Our goal is to reduce the number of racehorse deaths and injuries to zero, and we have taken many productive steps toward reaching that goal over the past four years,” said New York State Equine Medical Director Scott E. Palmer, VMD, Dipl. ABVP. “However, our work is never done and there will always be challenges that require reexamination and recalibration to effectively protect horses and their riders.

“The commission, as it does with every equine fatality on the grounds of a track in New York state, is actively investigating the circumstances of each incident at Saratoga Race Course,” he continued. “This also includes close scrutiny of the track surfaces, exercise history and past performances, individual horse risk factors, and more. NYRA and NYTHA are important partners in this effort. Pending the findings of this investigation, we will do whatever is necessary to prevent such injuries in the future. In the meantime, there are several proactive steps we can implement to make the sport safer for all involved.”

Hugh Gallagher, NYRA safety steward, said, “There is no issue more important to NYRA than the safety of our equine and human athletes. That is why NYRA has implemented extensive reforms and made significant investments since 2013 to improve track surface conditions, upgrade equipment, provide vets with more authority to monitor thoroughbred health, establish committees to oversee safety measures, and actively seek out advice and guidance from independent experts and scientists. As a result of these reforms, the number of catastrophic injuries during races occurring on NYRA tracks has been reduced by nearly 50% since 2013. We remain focused on continuously improving the safety of our racing operations. To that end, we are exploring the possibility of opening the main track for training to horsemen earlier in the year.”

Added Rick Violette Jr., NYTHA president, “Where safety is concerned, we need to examine every possibility, including a mandate to open all racing surfaces earlier than we have in the past before the start of the race meet. We are all for insisting that everyone involved in New York racing, from the trainers and the owners to the attending and regulatory veterinarians to racetrack management to the state regulators, be held to the highest standards. We all have to do our jobs to the best of our abilities. The litany of programs and initiatives and safety measures are only impressive when they work.”

New York state—via the NYSGC, NYRA, horsepersons, and state-licensed racetracks—already employs among the strictest and most comprehensive safeguards in the horseracing industry. These include increased veterinary scrutiny of all horses, complete veterinary autonomy from the racing offices, the strictest equine medication rules in North America, and other measures to ensure the safety and welfare of race horses. The 2012 New York Task Force on Racehorse Health and Safety, chaired by Palmer, established a blue print for all other jurisdictions to follow. New York has implemented all of the recommendations of the Task Force and has continued to adopt new measures as the industry evolves.

New Measures to Augment Industry-Leading Standards

Beyond Saratoga Race Course, as applicable, the below measures are being put into effect at all NYRA tracks and Finger Lakes Race Track:

Additional Commission Veterinarians On-Hand for Training: The NYSGC has stationed an additional regulatory veterinarian on the grounds of Saratoga Race Course during training hours. This doubling of efforts should help ensure that a veterinary presence exists to view horses during busy training hours and confirm that any incidents are appropriately documented and managed.

State-of-the-Art Horse Monitoring: Regulatory veterinarians are using reports provided by The Jockey Club’s InCompass Solutions software to examine horses considered to be at an increased risk for injury. A similar process has been implemented at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, in California, to identify horses that could be at risk. The reports will include horses stabled at Saratoga Race Course and/or Belmont Park that could be vulnerable to injury based upon extensive research findings.

“Equine safety has been and will always be a top priority for The Jockey Club and we are pleased that the New York Gaming Commission and the New York Racing Association are using our Equine Injury Database and our InCompass racing office software,” said James L. Gagliano, president and chief operating officer of The Jockey Club.

Comprehensive Owner, Trainer, and Veterinary Education: New York state is one of only a few jurisdictions in North America to require Thoroughbred trainers to obtain continuing education for licensure. The NYTHA, which fully supports this measure, has been an integral partner in this effort. These programs are regularly presented at New York state racetracks throughout the year. The NYSGC’s rule requires that all Thoroughbred trainers, including assistant and private trainers, obtain continuing education of at least four hours each year in equine health, welfare, and safety as well as small business, ethical, and human resource topics.

The next continuing education session is scheduled for Aug. 22 at Saratoga Race Course, where Palmer, along with two additional faculty members from Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, will cover:

Findings of the New York state thoroughbred post-mortem examination program;

Using risk and protective factors to prevent injury; and

Fetlock CT to assess proximal sesamoid bone fracture risk (with Heidi Reesnick, VMD, PhD, Dipl. ACVS, and Erin Cresswell, PhD, from Cornell University)

The presentation will be recorded and made available to the public after the event.

NYRA’s Safety Procedures and Protocols: All parties continue to monitor the condition of the Saratoga turf and dirt surfaces. NYRA has consistently shown a commitment to implement science-driven best practices to maintain safe surfaces for its equine and human athletes. To meet this goal, NYRA has made significant capital investments to better monitor and maintain track surface conditions.

At all three NYRA racetracks—Saratoga Race Course, Belmont Park and Aqueduct Racetrack—NYRA conducts extensive and continuous testing of our racing and training surfaces before, during, and after each race meet. Along with Michael “Mick” Peterson, PhD, from the Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory and Director of Ag Equine Programs at the University of Kentucky, NYRA has been a pioneer in creating a maintenance quality system (MQS), which utilizes both daily measurements and enhanced techniques to manage racing surfaces with a goal of creating consistency between all NYRA tracks.

Before any meet, Peterson performs enhanced testing and analysis of the racing surfaces. Those tests include the use of ground penetrating radar that looks at cushion depth, moisture, and composition of racing surfaces, immediately identifying any variations outside pre-determined criteria. His team also performs physical samples of the soil using triaxial sheer testing to maintain target clay, silt and sand ratios on the main track.

Additionally, Peterson inspects the overall performance and consistency using the biomechanical surface tester, which replicates loads and speed of a thoroughbred’s leading forelimb at gallop. This test looks closely at vertical and horizontal load on the hoof during impact with the surface.

Peterson’s comprehensive review of the racing surface at Saratoga includes:

Laboratory testing of the track material;

Inspection of the base and cushion using ground-penetrating radar;

Inspection of the overall performance and consistency of the surface using the biomechanical surface tester.

At Saratoga Race Course, Peterson conducted these tests before the start of the meet, and again between Aug. 9 and Aug. 11. All measurements, before the meet and during that three-day period, met predetermined criteria for consistency. Furthermore, his analysis revealed that within the predetermined criteria for variation, many measurements showed a reducing level of variation, indicating an increase of consistency, which is the key factor in providing a safe racing surface.

As part of its effort to provide the safest possible racing surface, NYRA utilizes daily measurements of the racing surface, keeps meticulous logs of maintenance work, and monitors and records weather conditions. Before and after each day of racing, NYRA conducts tests of cushion depth, moisture, and surface content to ensure the readings are within predetermined criteria established by the MQS. All maintenance of the track, including watering, harrowing, grading, and other measures are logged and compared with surface measurements and weather reports to provide comprehensive analysis.

All data collected is shared with Peterson in real time, allowing his team to constantly provide analysis and feedback.

NYRA performs daily measurements as part of a collaborative, ongoing monitoring of the surface, including:

Measurement and evaluation of racetrack depth;

Measurement and evaluation of racetrack composition;

Measurement and evaluation of racetrack moisture content;

Analysis and record keeping of all racetrack maintenance work; and

Analysis and record keeping of weather events.

Through this commitment to track safety and the MQS, NYRA has earned and maintained accreditation for all three racetracks by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Safety and Integrity Alliance, which, under the direction of Glen Kozak, NYRA's vice-president of racing surfaces and facilities, have earned "best practice" ratings in virtually every primary area the alliance examines.

NYRA Ongoing Actions: Since 2013, NYRA has collectively implemented extensive reforms to improve the safety of racing operations. NYRA has worked with the state with the same commitment to equine safety. NYRA’s catastrophic injury rate, which in 2012 was above the industry average as reported by the Jockey Club, has dropped below and remains below the industry average.

NYRA Catastrophic Injury Rate vs. Jockey Club National Average

Year NYRA Average National Average 2012 2.2 1.92 2013 1.29 1.9 2014 1.83 1.89 2015 1.09 1.62 2016 1.14 1.62

NYRA said this consistency and improvement is attributable to the following policies and procedures it implemented to enhance the safety of its racing operations:

Created a committee of the Board of Directors that specifically addresses issues of equine safety;

Created the position of safety steward, one of the first in the North American Thoroughbred industry, and thereafter employed Peterson to enhance equine safety;

Created a “Horse Watch Detail,” which received additional training and has developed expertise in how to properly recognize and monitor the kinds of medications given to horses;

Supported the NYSGC’s efforts to adopt the model rules regarding penalties for multiple offenders;

Gave NYRA attending veterinarians full and independent authority to scratch a horse at any time for any reason; and

Created an independent veterinary structure within the NYRA.

All three NYRA tracks have undergone significant capital improvements designed to improve the health and safety of our human and equine athletes. Since 2013, NYRA has invested $56 million on a wide variety of projects that have resulted in safer racetracks and backstretch facilities.

Ongoing NYS Actions: Further reforms enacted since 2013 include:

Requiring trainers to maintain records of corticosteroid administrations;

Improving documentation of fatal injuries;

Setting up standard protocols for post-mortems on horses suffering those injuries; and

Convening regular meetings of the Equine Safety Review Board, a group which reviews the data associated with any race day equine catastrophic injury.

No Apprentice Jockeys in Steeplechase Races: The National Steeplechase Association recently mandated that apprentice jockeys are no longer permitted to ride in steeplechase races at Saratoga and Belmont.

Amendment to Commission Claiming Rule 4038.5: Commission staff will seek an amendment to the Thoroughbred rule requiring all claimed horses report to the test barn following the race for examination by the NYSGC’s veterinarian. The amendment sought will require that any horse determined to have an American Association of Equine Practitioners Grade 2 or greater lameness, or to have bled from one or both nostrils, would be placed on the Vets List. The claim would be voidable at the discretion of the claimant.

Sound Retirement/Responsible Aftercare: The NYSGC, NYRA, and NYTHA, along with owners, trainers, and veterinarians continue to collaborate on a showcase horse retirement model for the entire country. These programs and others like them have found second careers and homes for thousands of racehorses over the past 10 years. The NYTHA’s TAKE2 program sponsors 350 horse shows each year to highlight the retired Thoroughbred racehorse, while its Take The Lead program facilitates and subsidizes the retirement of any Thoroughbred racing or stabled at a NYRA track. The Commission endorses the work of these agencies and the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, which funds and accredits aftercare and retirement facilities across the country.

On Aug. 29 at 12:30 p.m., at Empire State College (111 West Avenue, Saratoga Springs, NY), the NYSGC and its partners will discuss ongoing aftercare initiatives. This event—open to the public—will provide horse trainers, owners, connections, and the public with the opportunity to learn about the importance of retiring a horse before it suffers an injury. The many options for retirement and aftercare in New York will also be discussed. The Commission will also hear directly from the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and operators of accredited aftercare organizations in New York state.

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