On the heels of a successful Triple Crown season that concluded without any equine fatalities – numbers that will be included in the second quarter report – the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority released June 12 its 2024 First Quarter Metrics Report that saw a 38% decrease in racing-related fatalities compared with the first three months of 2023.

HISA went fully online in the second quarter of 2023 when it launched its oversight of anti-doping and controlled medication. It launched its safety program July 1, 2022.

The first quarter of 2024 (Jan. 1-March 31) saw a 38% decrease in racing-related equine fatalities year over year. Racetracks operating under HISA’s rules and running races in the first quarter reported 0.84 racing-related equine fatalities per 1,000 starts, compared with 1.35 racing-related equine fatalities per 1,000 starts in the first quarter of 2023.

Excluding Rillito Park in Arizona, which is closed for racing this year, the same tracks conducted racing during the first quarters of both 2023 and 2024.

“Reducing equine fatalities is the central focus of HISA’s work,” said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. “While even one fatality is too many, we are pleased to see the progress we are making. I am incredibly proud of HISA’s hard work and dedication in cooperation with our industry partners to prioritize horse welfare above all else. 

“We continue to actively seek feedback from the horse racing community on improving our rules and making Thoroughbred racing safer and fairer, and the achievement of a Triple Crown with no equine fatalities is a testament to our collective efforts. The industry can and should celebrate its commitment to evolve and prioritize the safety and welfare of its athletes – human and equine – above all else.”

This is the first time in United States Thoroughbred racing history that fatality metrics have been published quarterly – a reporting cadence that HISA will maintain going forward in recognition of the seasonal variabilities in racing conditions and numbers of equine fatalities, as well as the importance of ongoing transparency regarding safety concerns.

Highlights of HISA’s Quarterly Metrics Report include:

• Equine Fatalities: Racetracks operating under HISA’s rules that were open for racing reported 0.84 racing-related equine fatalities per 1,000 starts during the first quarter of 2024 as compared with 1.35 racing-related equine fatalities per 1,000 starts during the first quarter of 2023, a decrease of 38% year over year. The report also sets forth the racing-related fatalities by individual racetrack. Beginning with HISA’s 2024 Annual Metrics Report, to be published during the first quarter of 2025, HISA will provide training-related fatalities for the full year and each quarter of 2024 on an aggregate and per-track basis.
• Racetrack Accreditation: As of March 31, HISA has completed accreditation visits at 24 tracks, three of which occurred during the first quarter of this year: Turfway Park, Laurel Park, and Sunland Park.
• Racing Participant Registration: As of March 31, approximately 33,000 Covered Persons, 58,000 Covered Horses, and 1,000 veterinarians were registered with HISA.
• Riding Crop Violations: During the first quarter of 2024, HISA reported 4.74 crop rule violations per 1,000 starts, compared to 4.46 crop rule violations per 1,000 starts in the first quarter of 2023.
• Veterinary Treatment Records: On average, HISA received approximately 5,900 veterinary treatment records each day during the first quarter of 2024, and, as of March 31, approximately 2.5 million veterinary treatment records had been uploaded to the HISA Portal since the inception of the Racetrack Safety Program July 1, 2022.

The Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit will also release a separate quarterly report detailing metrics from the Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program.