In 2023, California saw an increase in equine fatalities. This halted a six-year trend of decline. The total number of deaths, including all breeds, rose to 82, with 76 being Thoroughbreds. This rise comes after a significant reduction from 209 fatalities in 2016 to 64 in 2022. Racing or training incidents accounted for 52 of the 2023 fatalities.
The CHRB executive director Scott Chaney expressed concern over this increase. He attributed part of it to the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority's (HISA) rules on steroid injections. The HISA rules are less strict than California's previous regulations. HISA mandates a 14-day rest period after intra-articular corticosteroid injections in the fetlock. California prohibits racing for 30 days after such injections. Yet, HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus has proposed revising this rule to match California's 30-day period. Chaney believes this change could reverse the uptrend in fatalities.
HISA's regulations are similar to California's successful safety measures. However, the state has seen a different outcome. Fatalities have not declined as in other states. The CHRB will continue its voluntary cooperation with HISA in 2024. This includes sample collections and investigations funded by revenues from advance deposit wagering.
Blea, CHRB's equine medical director, reported that musculoskeletal injuries caused over half of the deaths. Sudden deaths, like that of grade 1 winner Practical Move, accounted for 13.4%. Blea emphasized the industry's focus on investigating these premature deaths. They vary annually as a percentage of overall fatalities.