Racing's Renaissance
For the last several decades our industry has come under intense scrutiny, and for many of the complications we face, many would say we brought on ourselves. From the public's perception of catastrophic injuries to medication regulation, surface integrity, a depleting foal crop, to taking care of our backstretch workers, and a litany of other issues; self-inflicted. Yet, if you take time to look around and engage, our industry has started to take pride in ownership, and is working toward improving how we have been doing business.
We are starting to move away from "That's not our problem," to becoming active participants motivated to solve our issues, educate, and redirect our industry toward the highest levels of care so that we can celebrate these majestic animals that bring so much joy to our lives. Welcome to racing's 21st century renaissance.
We are starting to embrace and use data with greater frequency to better understand the day-to-day health of our horses, from wearable technologies such as StrideSafe and Arioneo, to the more readily available use of diagnostic imaging options. For our efforts, our sport has never been safer.
We have put into action new protocols to ensure our horses are fit to train and race. The 2023 Del Mar summer meet had zero catastrophic race injuries, and we just completed a Triple Crown season with a perfect table, every horse who ran on those three days all came back to their barns. We have moved further from "It's a part of the game," to "This is not acceptable, let's take action."
Despite some of the hiccups of any new organization, we are seeing the results that come with regulation. The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority and its CEO Lisa Lazarus have created an organization that relies on the experience and expert opinion of horsemen and women and the willingness to seek progressive and thoughtful dialogue from all levels of the industry including the next generation of industry leaders with the inception of the HISA Next Generation Advisory Group. It's a cadre built on the expertise of our most knowledgeable horse people, infused with a group of young, progressive, and enthusiastic racing stewards, and industry leaders all at the same table at the same time.
The term "aftercare" had not become a part of the public consciousness until 2012 when the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance was created. There are now 86 accredited aftercare facilities. TAA has granted nearly $32 million to accredited aftercare organizations, and more than 16,000 Thoroughbreds have been given a safe landing place after their careers are finished. Personally, this is an especially meaningful contribution as I volunteer at the Desert Oasis Rescue in Tucson, Ariz. I have the honor of assisting in taking care of some of the most incredible horses. Owner Cass Dewey believes nearly a thousand horses have come through her property over the last 20-plus years.
A sport long dominated by men for decades has never been more inclusive. New organizations like the Horse Racing Women's Summit led by Stephanie Hronis have evolved into an international meeting of the most influential women in racing discussing all aspects of our industry has likewise become a movement. Turn on any racing broadcast to see and hear some of the brightest people in our sport: Maggie Wolfendale Morley, Acacia Courtney Clement, Gabby Gaudet, Andie Biancone, Geena Lucille, Caton Bredar, Kaitlin Free, Christina Blacker, Ren Carothers, Zoe Cadman, and so many others providing the insight and the depth of thought needed to explain the nuance of our game. Trainers such as Cherie DeVaux, Jena Antonucci, Linda Rice, Brittany Russell, and jockeys such as Katie and Jackie Davis, as well as Maddy Olver are some of the most intelligent, engaging, and successful people in our sport, they are inspiring a whole new generation of young girls sitting on their dad's shoulders along the rail at Saratoga Race Course, Laurel Park, and Churchill Downs. This is a movement that is only going to continue to grow the sport.
While we still have obstacles to overcome like addressing the foal crop shortage, working and living conditions on the backstretch, and creating new and creative wagering to name a few, we have begun laying foundation to ensure the longevity of a sport that once dominated the American landscape. We have become more positive and collaborative, and the results are noticeable.
I believe it will require hope, collaboration, and action for our sport to evolve toward a healthy sustainability. This is a renaissance I want to be a part of.
Andre Gonzalez
Owner, Tucson, Ariz.
HISA Concerns
I have never contested a track ruling or written about a problem with testing in the flat track racing world before. Yet I find myself so concerned I can stay quiet no longer.
Since the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority entered the world of horse racing—although for good intentions—they have continuously made bad decisions when it comes to reasonableness in actions, testing, and administration. As a small Thoroughbred breeder and owner, I have recently witnessed several atrocities against trainers, horses, and owners due to poor decisions and actions by HISA representatives and their new and growing regulations.
Zero tolerance—no thresholds for environmental contamination that would NOT affect a horse's performance—has unfairly cost honest people. In addition to "zero-tolerance" issues, there are other unreasonable practices that falsely penalize trainers, horses, and owners who give up so much, just for the love of their animals and those who support the Thoroughbreds.
I recently ran a talented young gelding at a smaller track where he ran second on a dirt surface, then came back and won his next race by several lengths on that same dirt surface. As such, my trainer suggested we move him up in class and try him on turf, since that is what his breeding suggests should be his strong suit.
We ran him next on turf where he ran last. He did not like the surface at all and just refused to run on it. Due to this poor result, the track vets determined my horse should go to the test barn, even though he ran last and showed no signs of being tired. They claimed they were concerned that his heart rate was just 80 beats per minute after running. This type of heart rate normally means the horse is very fit.
Regardless, they sent him for testing which of course he was clean. Yet they said they wanted to test his heart further due to his rate dropping to 50 beats per minute in the test barn. These representatives determined my horse must have a heart problem and they put him on the vets' list until his heart could be examined by a specialist who just happened to be working at that track and doing heart studies.
This unfair decision has been devastating for my horse's opportunity to race and perform. He has lost nearly a third of the meet time while awaiting the vets to release him. He's a perfectly sound and healthy animal.
Such unreasonableness has already cost me—as an owner—enough that I may have to sell this horse to be able to cover bills from this significant delay.
Such situations are forcing small owners and breeders, like me, out of the horse racing business. Already having to face a tough road to make any kind of financial gain, due to COVID fallout (where fewer tracks were open for racing and lower purses resulted in tougher competition for smaller tracks and drove down the sale prices for stock), rising costs, smaller purses, and other such challenges, we now must deal with these unfair and unreasonable regulations and practices. These bad decisions regarding testing of our horses are wreaking havoc on this great sport. If we don't fix these problems with HISA, and fix them soon, we will lose many more small breeders and owners who currently run and support this industry with their blood, sweat, and tears.
Leslie Cummings
Dallas, Ore.
