By Brenna Angel
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wuky/local-wuky-910229.mp3
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- – Following the establishment of the Equine Injury Database, horse racing industry leaders say the next objective is to start an injury database for riders.
"Recognizing the risks for riders in the morning as well as the jockeys during the racing, and looking at that over time, that's the data that can then begin to feed into decisions on priorities on safety for the riders as well as the continuing information from the equine injury database for safety of the horse,"says Dr. Mick Peterson, who helped lead panel discussions at this week's welfare and safety summit at Keeneland.
Another idea coming out of the two-day safety meeting was that horse rescue organizations should be accredited. Jockey Club Executive Director Matt Iuliano says some type of seal-of-approval system is needed.
"Whether it's in terms of staffing, land use, horse care, horse husbandry, things of that sort, so you know that you've got appropriately accredited facilities at the other end to receive these horses whether it's for outplacement adoption, after care, things of that sort."
Officials with the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, which sponsored the summit, emphasized that all objectives require time and further discussion.