HISA data shows continued decline in racing fatalities

According to second-quarter racetrack fatality data released by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority on Friday, fatal racing injuries are on the decline, with lower fatality rates at tracks that operate under HISA regulations.

The fatality statistics reflected a fatal injury rate of 0.76 per 1,000 starts during the second quarter of 2024, the third straight quarter under one fatality per 1,000 starts. The metrics were previously reported by Natalie Voss of Paulick Report. The data does not include rates of training fatalities. According to Voss's reporting, HISA intends to begin tracking training fatalities once there is agreement on how to do so.

This marks the third straight quarter for which HISA data reflected a fatality rate below one per 1,000 starts for tracks operating under the framework. HISA reported a rate of 0.84 per 1,000 starts in the first quarter of 2024 and 0.89 per 1,000 starts in the fourth quarter of 2023.

The report also mentioned first-quarter fatality data for four non-HISA tracks: Delta Downs, Fair Grounds, Sam Houston and Charles Town. HISA acquired that data via public disclosure requests for each state's data. Racing fatality rates per 1,000 starts at Delta Downs of 2.77, Fair Grounds 0.99, Sam Houston 1.15 and Charles Town 2.98 were all higher than the first-quarter average for HISA tracks, though there were individual HISA tracks that had higher fatality rates than some of the non-HISA tracks. Requests for second-quarter data from non-HISA jurisdictions are pending.

There has been a concerted effort to track equine fatality data nationwide since 2009, when the Jockey Club Equine Injury Database was launched. The EID reported a rate of 2.00 deaths per 1,000 starts for 2009. Data from the EID has reflected a decline in equine fatality rate in the last 15 years. The equine fatality rate was 1.32 per 1,000 starts in 2023 according to EID numbers. Those numbers, similar to the trend in the reported HISA numbers, reflected a lower equine fatality rate at HISA tracks than the national average, with 1.23 equine fatalities per 1,000 starts in 2023 at HISA tracks.

The full report is available online. A separate report is forthcoming from the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit to detail metrics from the anti-doping and medication control program, though HISA did not announce a date for that report to be released.