Churchill Downs Implements Enhancements to Its ‘Safety from Start to Finish’ Program

[Wandering Eyes]

Edited Press Release

Churchill Downs Incorporated established the “Safety from Start to Finish” program in March 2009 to formalize its comprehensive approach to continual improvement of the health and safety protocols and policies for horses and humans who work, train, compete and attend racing events at Churchill Downs Racetrack.

Following a comprehensive evaluation of existing safety protocols and a thorough assessment of industry best practices in June 2023, Churchill Downs has implemented several key enhancements to the Safety from Start to Finish Program for 2024, including:

-Investment in Surface Management: To further maximize surface oversight and consistency, new and upgraded equipment including harrows, tractors and grader accessorized with smart grade technology have been incorporated into the track maintenance process.

-Increased Veterinary Oversight: Dr. Dana Stead was added to CDI's qualified veterinary team, led by Dr. Will Farmer, as Equine Safety and Integrity Veterinarian, to provide additional monitoring and specialized care for horses and to assist in developing and enforcing CDI equine safety protocols.

-Collaboration with Industry Experts: Synergetic work continues with HISA and other industry experts to identify at-risk horses and potential safety threat factors using veterinary medical records, computer models and advanced analytic techniques.

-Established Safety Management Committee: Comprised of a cross-section of horsemen including trainers, exercise riders, jockeys, racetrack management and veterinarians, the organized mobilization of this group allows for regular weekly meetings throughout the live race meet to foster an open dialogue to candidly discuss observations or concerns and provide real time feedback on areas for improvement.

-Implemented Technology: As an industry leader, Churchill Downs is investing in new technologies to help identify horses that may pose an increased risk potential.

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