Title: Ensuring Safety at the 151st Kentucky Derby: The Impact of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act

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WASHINGTON — We are days away from the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby. Behind the scenes, many will work to ensure the horses and jockeys have a safe race.

What You Need To Know

In 2020, Congress passed the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, creating an independent organization called HISA. A report released last month shows racetracks under HISA rules saw the lowest horse fatality rates since 2009. Some of the requirements under HISA include expanded veterinary protocols, pre-race inspections, racetrack surface monitoring, and uniform medication oversight.

It’s overseen by the Federal Trade Commission and launched a racetrack safety program in 2022 and an anti-doping program a year later. As horses and jockeys prepare for the Derby on Saturday, HISA said thanks in part to consistent, nationwide rules, Thoroughbred racing has never been safer.

HISA’s annual report released last month shows that last year, the 47 racetracks under HISA’s rules saw the lowest number of horse deaths—a rate of 0.9 per 1,000 starts—since recording first began in 2009. That reflects a 27% decrease from the year before and a drop of 35% since the last full year before the organization implemented its racetrack safety program.

Some requirements include expanded veterinary protocols, pre-race inspections, racetrack surface monitoring, and uniform medication oversight. Since last year’s Kentucky Derby, HISA has rolled out a mental health and wellness program for jockeys and a platform for veterinarians to get a holistic view of a horse’s health and performance.

“HISA has made significant progress in advancing its mandate across racetrack safety, technological innovation, uniform medication control, and equine welfare,” HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus said in a statement. “HISA pursued these initiatives with input and support from the many racing stakeholders who are the backbone of the sport, and their collective efforts have led to meaningful improvements in our safety metrics.”