Letter to the Editor

A recent article in the TDN, "He Thought His Horse Had Been Retired, So Why Did It Show Up at Chippewa Downs?" has attracted a lot of attention. It should. It's an unfortunate situation: an older Thoroughbred, sold for breeding purposes and believed by its owner to have been retired from racing ultimately returns to racing under new connections, raising understandable concerns about welfare and accountability. Scenarios like this are preventable and can be addressed through an existing protocol. Transferred as Retired from Racing (TRR)--a process available to all owners--should...

There are days in racing that are remembered for the horse. There are other days remembered for the crowd, the weather, the setting, or the history. And then there are rare days when all of it comes together. Saturday at Saratoga was one of those days. The final Belmont Stakes at Saratoga was not simply another great day of racing. It was a day of firsts. Nearly 50,000 people filled Saratoga Race Course to capacity. They came despite the threat of rain. And as the horses were entering the gate...

Turning 40 does things to people. When Josh Isner reached the milestone, he took a look at the road ahead and asked himself a question. "Do I just want to get worse at golf every year for the rest of my life? Or do I want to try to go win the Kentucky Derby?" This was only last year, but this is a guy whose words can barely keep up with his deeds. Which is saying plenty, because his every syllable is suffused with energy and drive. Isner had played...

In 2020, the Southern California Equine Foundation and its research arm, the Dolly Green Research Foundation, funded the development of the world's first standing PET scanner. Standing PET showed potential to allow the detection of specific pre-existing injuries which hitherto escaped recognition by either clinical exam or diagnostic technique. That investment has proved invaluable to the safety of California racing.  Standing PET technology is now deployed in racing venues ranging from Australia to Europe. The Board of Directors of the SCEF/DGRF is composed of industry representatives, veterinarians and trainers. From...

On May 5, 2026, the Light Up Racing Board of Directors announced the organization's decision to sunset following Breeders' Cup 2026, in the absence of a long-term organizational home and sustainable funding structure for the work. The following observations are not made from the sidelines. They come from being inside the work. There Is No Silver Bullet One of the most common questions we heard from leaders was simple: what is the solution? The campaign. The message. The strategy that will finally "fix" public perception. The honest answer is that...

When American Pharoah crossed the finish line in the 2015 Kentucky Derby, I immediately turned to my husband and said, "Let's go to the Belmont." In my mind, the best horse so rarely gets the good trip in the Derby, I had a hunch he might end the Triple Crown drought. That evening, I purchased four general admission tickets to the Belmont. Five weeks later, our kids (aged 12 and 10 at the time) stood on our soccer chairs inside the grandstand at Belmont Park and saw history with their...

After open letters to the industry Thursday from 1/ST President Aidan Butler and The Jockey Club backed the Save America's Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act, Breeders' Cup Limited also voiced support. Breeders' Cup Limited supports the Save America's Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act, a bipartisan piece of legislation that would permanently prohibit the slaughter of American horses for human consumption and end their export for that purpose abroad. This measure represents a critical step toward ensuring all horses, regardless of their stage of life, are treated with decency and care. Breeders' Cup...

Following 1/ST President Aidan Butler's open letter to the industry Thursday outlining 1/ST's support for the Save America's Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act, The Jockey Club expressed additional support of the SAFE Act and the future of horse racing, pledging to advance landmark legislation and see it become law.  The Jockey Club stands with 1/ST President Aidan Butler and his colleagues at 1/ST for their support of the SAFE Act and their recent, highly effective work to gain attention for this critical issue for the future of horse racing. We pledge...

In an industry that does not always speak with one voice, there should be one clear point of agreement: we are judged by how we care for our horses. Without a firm commitment to equine welfare, our sport cannot sustain its future. We owe them safety, dignity, and lifelong care. Everyone involved in racing shares responsibility for these horses, not only during their careers, but long after. The era of "business as usual" is over. This is a business, but it is also a responsibility that requires integrity and a...

I read with optimism HISA's 2025 fatality rate report showing a gradual but steady decline in the rate since 2009. However, I feel that it still doesn't address a major issue affecting U.S. horse racing (as touched upon by Mr. Sonbol in his letter), namely the extremely high level of short-term and long-term injuries suffered by US racehorses. There have been widespread commentaries (and potential solutions) recently by industry leaders regarding the major concerns affecting our industry, including the fatality rate, the rapid decline in the horse population, the extensive...

I've read every HISA annual metrics report since the first one landed in 2024. All three of them. Cover to cover, footnotes included. And every year I've come away with the same feeling: something is missing. Not from the effort. The effort is real. HISA has built the most comprehensive equine health database in the history of American racing. Seven million veterinary treatment records. Treatment histories that follow horses across state lines for the first time. The infrastructure is extraordinary. What's been missing is statistical depth. Year after year, the...

California's storied racetracks once set the gold standard in American racing. Yet today, many owners are asking: is there hope? From my vantage point as a longtime owner, the answer lies in collaboration, clear communication and a shared commitment to the future. We've seen encouraging signs--new training programs, emerging talent and a continued passion among participants. California racing does not lack for quality horses, trainers or owners. What we must do now is harness that strength and align it toward a common purpose. After retiring from a career in public...