Horse Racing Safety Continues to Improve Under New Guidelines
On the horse racing scene, a fresh report from the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA), released on May 20, shows promising strides in safety measures during the first quarter of 2025. These numbers speak volumes about the positive changes in the industry, akin to a young colt finding its stride on a sunny morning workout.
HISA’s recently published 2025 First Quarter Metrics Report, rich with a detailed analysis of key performance indicators within Thoroughbred racing across the US, paints this vibrant picture. The report indicates that from January 1 to March 31, the number of racing-related equine fatalities stood at 0.85 per 1,000 starts. This figure remains nearly identical to last year’s 0.84 fatalities per 1,000 starts, signaling a healthy 37% drop from the 1.35 fatalities per 1,000 starts noted back in 2023, a year when HISA first started compiling such statistics. The figures reflect how industry efforts are paying off, with the rate showing a 5.6% reduction compared to 2024’s overall rate of 0.90.
Breaking Down the Figures
The fresh insights from HISA also delve into the specifics—something every trainer with a keen eye for detail would appreciate. For the first time, fatalities are subclassified: 94% were due to musculoskeletal injuries, 3% to sudden death, and another 3% from causes categorized under traumatic injuries, not linked to the musculoskeletal system. Just as a skilled horseman spots minor signs in a horse’s posture, HISA is leveraging veterinary treatment records to pinpoint injury risk patterns and has begun issuing advisories based on these insights.
HISA’s first equine health advisory has honed in on risk factors for fatal proximal forelimb fractures, data curated diligently from the HISA Portal. It’s a sophisticated approach, akin to adjusting a bridle to fit perfectly, aimed at reducing fatal injuries in races.
Training-Side Developments
On the training tracks, racetracks logged training-related fatalities at 0.73 per 1,000 workouts in this quarter. Like a precise timepiece, these numbers show ongoing diligence. Parsing these further, 76% of training-related deaths were due to musculoskeletal causes, with sudden death accounting for 20%, and other traumatic injuries covering 4%. HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus, reflecting the pride and determination found in every dedicated trainer, confidently states that while progress is visible, there’s much ground yet to cover, particularly in training environments.
Using pragmatic terms, she emphasizes the industry’s ongoing responsibility: “Our duty to protect the welfare of horses and riders must be upheld daily, in every barn and on every track.” It’s about keeping the focus, day in and day out, similar to consistent training that assures a horse runs its best race.
Further Progress and Future Outlook
In the first quarter of 2025, a total of 23,167 unique covered horses either recorded a workout or participated in a covered race, marking a truly significant engagement within the industry. This means the total racing- and training-related fatality rate came in at a mere 0.35%. For a sector where each stride matters, this statistic offers a glimmer of hope and an encouragement to push forward with current momentum.
The ambitions of HISA mirror those of a steadfast horse racing community, driven to reduce risks while enhancing every aspect of trainer-rider partnership. Just as every race demands strategic moves and well-timed spurts of speed, the ongoing development of safety measures charts a course towards a healthier, safer horizon for horse racing as a whole.