The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) today announced the release of a new Equine Health Advisory on the risk of fatal injury in Covered Horses previously placed on the Veterinarians' List as Unsound. The advisory, which is based on data drawn from the HISA Veterinarians' List, provides practical guidance, including on the use of wearable biometric sensors during training programs to provide additional insight into horses' condition and performance.
"Decisions to place a horse on the Veterinarians' List as Unsound are made with the utmost care and expertise by Regulatory Veterinarians, and it is crucial that they are supported in their work with as much data as possible, along with strong collaboration with Trainers and Attending Veterinarians," said Dr. Jennifer Durenberger, HISA Director of Policy and Industry Initiatives.
When horses are scratched, they may be placed on the Veterinarians' List or Stewards' List. In 2025, 3,297 unique horses were placed on the Veterinarians' List as Unsound by Regulatory Veterinarians at Covered Racetracks. As of March 31, 2026, 1,904 of those horses (nearly 60%) have not made a subsequent start.
Crucially, through the end of Q1 2026, approximately 20% of racing- and training-related fatalities involving Covered Horses at Covered Racetracks have occurred in horses who were either still on the Veterinarians' List as Unsound at the time of death, had been scratched by Regulatory Veterinarians prior to a recent race or removed from the Veterinarians' List as Unsound within the six months preceding the fatal injury.
This is the fourth Equine Health Advisory that HISA has issued, following advisories on proximal forelimb fractures, exercise-associated sudden death and proximal hindlimb fractures. Sharing these insights from the HISA Portal supports better-informed care, promotion of best practices and reduction of the risk of equine injuries and fatalities.
Supplemental to the advisory, in December 2025, HISA announced a comprehensive review aimed at updating the Veterinarians' List and Stewards' List categories across U.S. Thoroughbred racing, with changes targeted for 2026. Through this initiative, HISA aims to modernize and harmonize these oversight tools, providing additional insights into national safety metrics.
The full advisory is available here. It has been distributed to all Trainers and veterinarians registered in the HISA Portal and is also available on www.hisaus.org under the Resources section.
