Tragedies spur action in best interest of the horses

First came Barbaro, the 2006 Kentucky Derby winner who broke a hind leg in the opening strides of the Preakness and was euthanized eight months later. Then came Eight Belles, the filly who collapsed after finishing second in last year's Derby and died on the track.

Those very public deaths turned the whispers for reform into full-blown shouts. As racing prepares for its greatest and most widely viewed spectacle, Saturday's Kentucky Derby, some of its leaders have continued to work toward meaningful solutions. Discussion initiated by tragedy has given rise to action -- but it will require a sustained, widespread effort for racing to overcome the toxic effects of greed and recklessness.

Earlier this month, Derby host Churchill Downs became the first American racetrack to be certified by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Safety and Integrity Alliance. An equine veterinarians' group is advocating greater support for horses' safety and welfare. Most states with pari-mutuel racing have banned the use of steroids within 30 days of a race. "I think anything we can do to show the public that we're taking every precaution we can, to ensure the safety of everyone, is very good for everyone involved in the game," said trainer Todd Pletcher, whose Derby candidates include Dunkirk and Advice. "All participants involved have an obligation to try to do the very best we can to minimize [risk].

"The industry as a whole is certainly more aware of trying to be safer. There's inherent risk in any athletic endeavor where injury is possible. But I think as an industry, we've made real improvements."

Among the advances made in the past year:

• The NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance was formed last fall as a means of establishing uniform national standards for racing. To earn accreditation, a track must follow guidelines in five areas: injury reporting and prevention, creating a safe racing environment, care and placement of retired racehorses, safety research and medication rules.

Requirements include programs to retrain horses for second careers, comprehensive drug testing both in and out of competition, pre- and postrace veterinary exams and mandatory postmortems of horses who died from on-track injuries.

• The Racing Medication and Testing Consortium is developing new drug-testing standards, using the World Anti-Doping Agency as a model, and has led an effort to strengthen rules regarding the use of steroids and other drugs.

• Nearly 80 tracks have joined a national injury reporting system, which will provide data that can be used to judge the safety of track surfaces.

• The American Association of Equine Practitioners recommended ways to improve the safety and welfare of racehorses. The veterinarians' group urged greater standardization in medication rules, which now vary widely from state to state, as well as rehabilitation and adoption programs for retired horses and increased efforts to reduce injuries.

"Our premise is very simple: What is good for the horse is good for racing," said Dr. Scott Palmer, chairman of the AAEP's racing task force. "It's fair to say that particular recommendations will resonate with some individuals and alienate others within the industry. Nonetheless, we'd like to think that if our horses could read this document, they would be pleased."

As Palmer noted, there always will be humans who put self-interest ahead of ethics. Only a few weeks ago, Ernie Paragallo -- a well-known New York horse owner whose champions include Unbridled's Song -- was charged with 22 counts of animal cruelty when more than 150 thoroughbreds on his farm were found starving and infested with parasites. Trainer Jeff Mullins, whose I Want Revenge is expected to be among this week's Derby favorites, will start a one-week suspension Sunday for giving medication to a horse only 30 minutes before a race in violation of New York rules.