Panel: Culture Change Needed in Thoroughbred Racing

Panelists pushed for better communication and more transparency to help keep racehorses safe.
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Based on comments from panelists who discussed prioritizing racehorse safety among owners, trainers, and veterinarians during the second day of the Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit July 9, it appears adoption of various common-sense practices hinges on a change of culture in the racing industry.

It mostly comes down to communication and transparency, though both often prove elusive in an industry not know for readily embracing change.

Trainer Gary Contessa, who is based in New York, said Wednesday at summit taking place at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky, he sees progress on the transparency front but added that much more needs to be done. He used as an example of the lack of information available when a trainer claims a horse, particularly its veterinary records.

"As a trainer, communication is so difficult because everybody is scared," Contessa said. "I can claim a horse and have no idea what the previous trainer did (regarding treatment). We have got to become transparent for the protection of the horse

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Tom LaMarra, a native of New Jersey and graduate of Rutgers University, has been news editor at The Blood-Horse since 1998. After graduation he worked at newspapers in New Jersey and Pennsylvania as an editor and reporter with a focus on municipal government and politics. He also worked at Daily Racing Form and Thoroughbred Times before joining The Blood-Horse. LaMarra, who has lived in Lexington since 1994, has won various writing awards and was recognized with the Old Hilltop Award for outstanding coverage of the horse racing industry. He likes to spend some of his spare time handicapping races.

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