On April 23, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association unveiled Safety Runs First, a new nationwide campaign and website designed to highlight the industry's shared dedication to integrity, safety, and welfare.
In Safety Runs First, changes being made to the Thoroughbred racing industry are highlighted along with their current outcomes. These changes include the effects of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, the national regulatory oversight body, new veterinary and track surface protocols, and other steps the industry is taking to improve safety practices.
As the racing industry continues to invest in programs and resources to assist in lowering injury risk and improving athlete safety, the campaign and website are intended to serve as an ongoing, long-term resource for the general public.
Tom Rooney, president and CEO of the NTRA stated that the Safety Runs First will be a key part of their sport's commitment to transparency and accountability as they continue to strive for ways to create the safest environment possible for racing. This is an evolution of a program the NTRA launched last fall but with substantial additional reach and resources, thanks to NTRA member organisations.
Shannon Arvin, president & CEO of the Keeneland Association and head of the NTRA board, stated, that Thoroughbred racing is making significant strides in safeguarding the welfare of their horses, thanks to uniformity in their rules, strengthened veterinary protocols, and the use of new technologies, data, and AI. Safety Runs First provides the platform to share this exciting forward progress with their fans and the general public.
The first marketing campaign, created by creative communications firm CTP, will run during the summer and fall of 2024, coinciding with the Triple Crown race series. Radio, digital, social media, and national and local broadcast advertising will be used at launch.
This week's release of "The New York Times Presents: Broken Horses," a documentary that will debut on FX on April 26 and then stream on Hulu, comes before the release of Safety Runs First. The documentary's creators have stated that it will look at problems and procedures in the field and analyse a run of horse accidents at Churchill Downs earlier this spring.
The goal of the NTRA, which has its headquarters in Lexington and Washington, D.C., is to promote the integrity, welfare, and appeal of thoroughbred racing by uniting thousands of individual stakeholders and over 100 horse racing interests. These stakeholders include owners, breeders, trainers, and horseplayers as well as affiliated horse racing associations.