Speaking before the California Horse Racing Board on January 20, California Thoroughbred Trainers executive director Alan Balch presented the focus areas of the California crash prevention task force he heads, including study of sudden horse deaths.
Balch began his presentation by seeking to dispel arguments that 2-year-old racing harms young horses, citing research from orthopedic surgeon Dr. Larry Bramlage, in which he noted that data Injury data in horses suggests that young racehorses have a reduced risk of career-ending injury compared with those who do not.
In the second half of his speech during the CHRB’s televised monthly meeting, Balch emphasized the need to further evaluate equine deaths related to sudden death and shoulder injuries. One cause cannot be attributed to about 20-25% of sudden deaths, he said, but requires further research.
“We will therefore propose to (Grayson-Jockey Club Research) that they make a huge incremental financial commitment in addition to generous support for all veterinary research, especially to further determine the cause of these deaths,” Balch said. “And we would suggest that both medical and epidemiological research be involved in the new effort.”
The organization is the nation’s leading source of equine research funding, supporting the health and safety of horses. It undertakes research projects in North America and abroad.
An analysis of genetic markers in horses that may predispose to sudden heart failure risk should continue to be pursued, Balch said, noting that Dr. Dionne Benson, the Group’s chief veterinary officer Stronach, informed him that TSG had been studying it for the past two years.
Regarding the efforts being made to reduce shoulder injuries, Balch said a continuing education module offered by the CHRB in the state was successful and “we need to look at ways to make the assessment This continuity is mandatory for owners, trainers and veterinarians.” He also recommends a guide to best practices.
He concluded that Purebred Owners of California had been assigned to Joe Hasson to work with the task force to evaluate their analytical data.
Also during Thursday’s meeting, the CHRB granted TSG an extension to the sprinkler system installation at the San Luis Rey Training Center in Southern California. Officials had hoped to complete the long-delayed project by the end of this month, but TSG said COVID-19-related issues pushed completion until the end of February.
The facility was devastated by a fire in late 2017, in which 46 horses died.
The CHRB ended the meeting with expressed support for its equine medical director, Dr Jeff Blea, who is on administrative leave pending a formal hearing beginning January 21 before the Board of Medicine. California Veterinary Medicine. His license was temporarily suspended following an emergency hearing by VMD following an anonymous complaint.
Among other allegations, he and other veterinarians allegedly prescribed and administered medication to horses without testing or medical necessity during his time as a veterinarian. Horses in private practice in the Southern California area. He took up his position with the CHRB last summer.
Three CHRB commissioners and chief executive Scott Chaney echoed previous CHRB statements in which they praised Blea’s integrity. CHRB President Dr. Greg Ferraro speculated that VMD’s actions were politically motivated.
“The CHRB is doing everything in its lawful power to correct this,” Chaney said in his report, before a closed session of the panel in which the legal issues were discussed separately.
