HISA's 2023 equine fatality report shows slight decline

Racetracks under the jurisdiction of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority experienced 1.23 racing-related equine fatalities per 1,000 starts in 2023, HISA reported Tuesday.

That rate is down from the rate reported by The Jockey Club in its equine-injury database in 2022, when it was 1.25 per 1,000 starts, and is lower than the national rate reported Tuesday in The Jockey Club’s 2023 EID, 1.32 per 1,000 starts.

The methodologies and criteria for reporting HISA’s and The Jockey Club’s rates are identical, with the caveat that The Jockey Club’s 2022 and 2023 rates include data from Thoroughbred racetracks in the U.S. currently operating outside of HISA’s jurisdiction. The 2023 EID shows that tracks not under HISA’s jurisdiction have a fatality rate of 1.63 per 1,000 starts, significantly higher than the 1.23 per 1,000 starts at HISA-regulated tracks.

“HISA’s most important goal is driving down equine fatalities,” said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. “We undoubtedly have significant work ahead of us, but I am pleased to see the rate is trending in the right direction. The reduction in the rate of equine fatalities at tracks under our jurisdiction demonstrates that setting high standards for racetrack safety and anti-doping and medication control across the country makes Thoroughbred racing safer.”

HISA’s racetrack-safety program went into effect on July 1, 2022, and its anti-doping and medication control program went into effect on May 22, 2023. 2023 marks the first year for which HISA has reported an annual equine-fatality rate for tracks under its jurisdiction.

HISA’s regulations and interventions had the most dramatic impact on small and mid-sized tracks in states where safety had been historically underfunded and underregulated.

HISA’s racetrack-safety regulations require pre-race veterinary exams and other expanded veterinary protocols, ensure equine treatment records follow a horse throughout its racing career, make horses’ full medical and workout histories available to veterinarians around the country, ensure every racetrack is held to the same high standards for facility safety, require racing surface conditions be monitored and reported to HISA regularly, and require claims be voided if a horse dies, is euthanized, or is vanned off the track.

As part of HISA’s commitment to public reporting, the organization will release an inaugural annual report next month that will include a detailed analysis of key metrics for 2023 concerning equine fatalities, registrations, fines assessed, track accreditation and riding crop violations.