The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) has been making significant strides in ensuring the safety of horses and riders. A recent third quarter metrics report reveals that the rate of breakdowns at HISA tracks is on a continuous downward trend. This report, covering the period from July 1 to Sept. 30, marks the third consecutive quarter of year-over-year declines in the equine fatality rate.

Key Findings and Comparisons

During the third quarter, the fatality rate decreased by approximately 21% year-over-year. Racetracks operating under HISA's rules reported 0.93 racing-related equine fatalities per 1,000 starts, as opposed to 1.18 in the third quarter of 2023. At the recent Global Symposium on Racing hosted by the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program, it was revealed that by Dec. 10, the rate of fatalities at HISA tracks was 0.88 per 1,000 starters. Last year at the same time, this number was 1.32. Since The Jockey Club started its Equine Injury Database in 2009, the number of breakdowns per 1,000 starts has never been below 1.0 and has reached as high as 2.0.Santa Anita, which faced a challenging situation just five years ago with an inordinate number of horses breaking down during training or racing, had only two breakdowns in the first three quarters of the year, resulting in a rate of 0.41 breakdowns per 1,000 starts. Horseshoe Indianapolis also had an impressive record, with only one fatality from 5,585 starts, yielding a rate of 0.18 fatalities per 1,000 starts.HISA does not have jurisdiction over racing in a few states like Texas, West Virginia, and Louisiana. After releasing its second-quarter results, HISA submitted public disclosure requests for racing-related fatalities in these states and received responses. During the second quarter of 2024, fatalities at racetracks in these non-HISA states amounted to 2.38 racing-related fatalities per 1,000 starts, more than triple the fatality rate at HISA tracks during the same period, which was 0.76 racing-related fatalities per 1,000 starts. The highest rate of fatalities occurred at the West Virginia tracks, Charles Town and Mountaineer Park, where 19 horses died in the first half of the year, resulting in a rate of 2.46 per 1,000 starts.It is believed that the rigid veterinary checks imposed by HISA have played a crucial role in reducing the number of fatalities. An average of 7,500 veterinary treatment records were uploaded daily during Quarter 3 2024, bringing the total to four million records since the Racetrack Safety Program's inception on July 1, 2022.These consistent year-over-year declines in the racing-related equine fatality rate are a testament to the dedication and collaboration of all stakeholders in the industry. As safety and integrity continue to improve, we are reminded that our mission to protect the well-being of horses and riders will preserve the sport for generations to come. There is still more work to be done, but the progress so far is truly inspiring.