The 4th Floor Lawn & Courtyard Club at the Aqueduct Racecourse was the venue for Day 2 of the Racing Inquisitors Foundation. No wet sails… as the schedule met the wind on the last day. The variety of topics that make up the gambit, from equine veterinary health, including general pre-race treatments, to the effective nature of microchip implementations and certification programs. digital only. Participants were again treated with a powerful combination of data and anecdotal evidence that was both informative and a healthy dose of persuasion. When the meeting concludes with their Annual Business Meeting, attendees can return to their locality, armed with a plethora of best practices and perhaps best of all, a stack of cards that provide links link to an experienced officer. All they have to do, no matter what… is pick up the phone.
On Tuesday, March 29, it was The Jockey Club’s turn to take the lead. Kristen Werner, Senior Advisor to the organization, led the way with a keynote address that covered several key lines of inquiry. She explains that the Jockey Club continues to be more than just a breed registry; in fact, its safety, welfare and aftercare initiatives are quite diverse and rich. Her Power Point outlined how her owner continues to advocate widely for horses, sports, and business. Over the past two decades, the Jockey Club has strived to lead an industry that differentiates itself, in race safety, horse injury reporting and building a statistical database generated from head effectively. Tracking can, in turn, access this information in a meaningful way. Werner has a pretty diverse background, starting in this clearing house as a student during her University of Kentucky days. She raved about “Aftercare” for retired racehorses and urged investigators to use the resources at their disposal, such as Thoroughbred Connect and Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. As she explicitly states, “I look back 10 years ago, and wouldn’t be as optimistic about the future of a Purebred dog after racing as I am now.” Resources …
Speaking of… The next presenters, both from the Thoroughbred Racing Protection Bureau (TRPB), called attention to the importance of understanding microchips and digital certificates. Both Teena Appleby and Rachael Mant have directly tackled the complex process of “cutting” 51,000 Thoroughbreds across 77 locations as of 2019 with just 58 technicians… oh, and there’s been a Pandemic in the past year. most of that time. Fortunately, since both of these versatile agents are involved, Zoom met and patience helped win the day. Using the latest in digital platform technology and a simple smartphone link with an app, the data and images needed to accurately identify a horse can be easily deployed. Moving away from the old tattoo system, tracks can now scan and edit profiles to reflect the changes they spot on any jockey. To hear Appleby say, “The goal is to make sure that the technicians have all the resources they need and the proper training to get the right horse, in the right position.” One of the biggest hurdles is having more than one chip implanted in any given athlete. Mant told attendees they had “found up to 6 chips in a single runner,” which indicates a pertinent omission. Best practices increase your chances of making a fair game…
Just before the lunch break, attendees were given a thorough set of explanations on two seemingly very different topics. However, they are not the same as you think. Both what Leesa Johnson of the New Mexico Racing Commission and Richard Schosberg, President of Take2/Take the Lead in New York, have said are based on the idea that the best possible care for horses should prioritize every horse. others. Johnson’s presentation covered how routes can streamline testing in and out of competition. Her team of investigators were particularly attentive when observing a horse moving from paddock to paddock. Signs like a racehorse’s undress, post-race scratches, and even irritability in the gate, can easily lead to a trip to the test barn. Tracking a horse’s progress, and even reviewing an owner’s history of poor behavior, are great ways to address issues before the animal is injured. Likewise, Schosberg is also committed to protecting racehorses, but his focus is on the area of ”aftercare”. Both Take2 and Take the Lead are organizations that “veter” potential owners and seek to “place” Purebreds in situations ranging from “good home” to “second purpose” in life. An avid trainer, breeder, and advocate for the lifeblood of the sport, Schosberg discussed how “sound tests” (not “lame tests”) , can inform about the residence of horse health. In consultation with surgeons, a host of others, try to help a former athlete get ready for their next life. He keeps giving some numbers, and it’s clear that the New York Racing Association continues to support initiatives like this – with a $300k budget. However, private donations from former trainers, owners and racers are integral to the survival of this great set of programs.
To conclude ORI ’22, 3 New York presenters continued the topic of resources available to investigators. First, Dr. Scott Palmer of the New York State Game Commission gave a powerful introduction to more coordinated efforts to deal with the problem of joint pre-race treatments in Thoroughbreds. His long experience in an impressive career has taught him that, “Humans make imperfect decisions based on complete disregard for the truth.” In other words, the invention of truth can be completely limited, and the result only harms the horses that make up this great industry. Dr. Palmer has put forward a unique point of view when it comes to descriptive terminology … lameness. “It’s a matter of perspective,” he reminded the participants, “I think it’s subjective, and it depends on how you’re looking at a particular issue.” Therefore, there could be several reasons, such as gait abnormalities, but the main point is that the only way to find out what is wrong, is an effective diagnosis. With joints so small, there’s room for big mistakes and Dr. Palmer continues to urge investigators to ensure that owners, trainers and veterinarians don’t develop bad habits when performing treatment procedures.
A pair of NYRA representatives then delivered a series of information sessions on how attendees can use media effectively and the ways in which on-site providers specifically support them. health and wellness, especially when it comes to concussion from horse racing. The topic was previously helmed by NYRA Communications Officer Keith McCalmont. He gave a sensible talk about how investigators and tracking press officers could work in concert for a stronger tomorrow. Instead of seeing each other as rivals, training and digging deeper to understand sensitive issues can help smooth public responses. As far as later presentation goes, it was Patricia Morrison from Premise Health who created an energizing excitement for the discussion as she explained her role as a medical professional. in place of the NYRA. Morrison is tasked with addressing any and all medical issues that may arise within the walls of an NYRA track like the Aqueduct. Her expertise helps her deal with riders who brazenly want to compete, even when serious trauma (like a concussion) may be present. As she makes clear, “We work closely with investigators to make this racecourse as safe as possible in human terms by performing multiple assessments on a daily basis.” With rest and recovery her primary duties, she regularly engages with the colony to uncover problems before they derail in their careers. Whether it’s tracking the weight of a racehorse, or making the difficult decision to transport an injured rider to the hospital, Morrison is a proponent of keeping everyone safe during any race. certain. If a jockey returns too soon, or covers up an injury, it can lead to dire consequences for the entire court.
Finally, when the agenda was complete, thanks to President Jean Claude Jaramillo for his savvy troubleshooting and planning skills, the Racing Investigative Organization turned its attention to the issues. more internal. A business meeting was conducted and new officers were appointed. These include Ashley Leary and Merlinda Gonzalez. Congratulations… Also on the ORI Executive Board are JN Campbell, who will serve as the group’s Communications Lead. Campbell, a North America-based scriptwriter with Gaming USA (Horseracing.net/us), will handle all press releases and correspondence both inside and outside the organization.
2022–2023 ORI Executive Board
President… Juan Estrada, Arizona Game Department
Vice President… Jason Klouser, Pennsylvania Equestrian Commission
Immediate previous president… Jean Claude Jaramillo, New York Racing Association
Secretary… Ashley Leary, formerly Colorado Racing Commission
Treasurer … Don Ahrens, Sam Houston Race Park
Sergeant-at-Arms … Leasa Johnson, New Mexico Racing Commission
Representative of the US West… Mike Kilpack, National Thoroughbred Racing Association
Representative of the US East … Lance Morell, Parx Casino and Racetrack
Representative of the American Center … Merlinda Gonzalez, Lone Star Park
Representative of Canada … Tyler Durand, Wine and Game Commission of Ontario
International Representative… Chris Gordon, Executive Board of Ireland Horse Racing
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