The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) board of directors has approved the organization’s Safety and Integrity Alliance 2011 Code of Standards. The compliance standards will serve as the basis for future racetrack Alliance accreditation, including the re-accreditation of tracks accredited by the Alliance when it was founded in 2009. Among the changes to the Alliance’s Code of Standards for 2011 is the addition of guidelines to promote horse and jockey health and safety. In addition, the code has been made even more rigorous in a number of other areas, including equine injury reporting, pre- and post-race veterinary inspections, safety training, and continuing education.

The NTRA board also approved a request of the Alliance’s advisory committee that would permit the insertion of additional changes to the Code in 2011 as circumstances warrant.

"This latest version of the Code represents the work of multiple stakeholders in our industry and addresses some of the most pressing issues facing jockeys especially," said Mike Ziegler, executive director of the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance. "As we have said many times, the Alliance Code of Standards is a work in progress designed to evolve with scientific advancements and consensus recommendations for change over time. To that end, we continue to closely monitor the Life At Ten investigation.

"If and when needed changes are identified and recommended by the Alliance Advisory Committee, the Alliance will not hesitate to implement those changes by further updating the Code," he added