Pre-Race Veterinary Inspections Help Keep Horses Safe

Pre-race inspections also communicate a message to horsemen that equine safety is a priority, one vet says.
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The numbers seem to indicate–at the least–that many of the horses scratched following pre-race exams did have problems. | Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt/The Horse
Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) Equine Medical Director Mary Scollay, DVM, believes pre-race inspections not only help improve horse safety on many levels but also communicate a message to horsemen that equine safety is a priority.

Speaking at the Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit on Oct. 16 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., Scollay presented a 10-year study that indicated positive trends for pre-race exams in Florida and explained the steps of a pre-race exam while KHRC Chief Veterinarian Bryce Peckham conducted a typical study.

Scollay said the exams have let trainers know that the KHRC expects a certain level of soundness before a horse is allowed to race.

“We’ve established that line in the sand,” Scollay said. “Some of this is training the trainers

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Frank Angst is a staff writer for The Blood-Horse magazine. An American Horse Publications three-time winner in best news story category, Angst has covered horse racing for more than a decade. Angst spent ten years at Thoroughbred Times, where he earned awards as that magazine’s senior writer and helped launch Thoroughbred Times TODAY. Besides covering horse racing, Angst enjoys handicapping. Angst has written about sports for more than 20 years, including several seasons covering a nationally ranked Marshall Thundering Herd football team.

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