The summit, which brings together a cross-section of the breeding, racing and veterinary communities, again will be underwritten and coordinated by The Jockey Club and Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and hosted by the Keeneland Association.
The first summit was held in October 2006. Subsequent editions were held in March 2008, June 2010, October 2012, July 2014, and July 2015. Summits will continue to be held annually.
“This year we plan to bring back the summit committee meetings the day after the summit as we have in the past with the first few editions,” said Edward L. Bowen, president, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation. “This will help keep ideas fresh and keep committee members focused on initiatives to improve the welfare and safety of our equine and human athletes.”
The summit will be held in the Keeneland sales pavilion and it is open to the public; a live webcast will also be available. A formal agenda and a list of speakers will be announced at a later date.
Among the major accomplishments that have evolved from the previous six summits are the Equine Injury Database; the Jockey Injury Database; the Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory, which provides science-based testing of racing surfaces to enhance safety for horse and rider; a uniform trainer test and study guide; the racing surfaces white paper and publication of educational bulletins for track maintenance; the publication of stallion durability statistics; the Hoof: Inside and Out DVD, available in English and Spanish; a model rule banning toe grabs greater than 2 mm and elimination of all traction devices on front shoes approved and passed in August 2008; and the movement by state racing commissions to create regulations that void the claim of horses suffering fatalities during a race.
Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation is traditionally the nation’s leading source of private funding for equine medical research that benefits all breeds of horses. Since 1983, the foundation has provided approximately $22.6 million for 324 specific projects at 41 universities. Additional information about the foundation is available at grayson-jockeyclub.org.
