Harrisburg, PA – The United States Trotting Association is ramping up efforts to greatly increase industry participation in its Equine Health & Wellness Database, which was launched in 2024.
The EHWD was created to identify clusters and types of injuries sustained at racetrack, training centers, and farms, with a goal of having accurate data and the ability to use the data to develop safety measures and policies.
USTA Chief Executive Officer Mike Tanner attended the May 26 Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission to make a presentation on the EHWD and seek support. He said he intends to attend racing regulatory meetings in other jurisdictions as well.
Tanner noted that people are surprised to learn that catastrophic breakdowns in Standardbred racing are rare, but there is no database that can reflect how low the percentage is by number of starts throughout the country. In Thoroughbred racing, the Equine Injury Database provides those numbers and can report the information by racetrack, age, track surface and distance of races.
Tanner said a few states, primarily New York and California, have robust databases, but the EHWD has not been embraced, perhaps because there is no incentive to provide the information.
“What we are seeking is accident and injury data,” Tanner said. “We’re asking judges to report incidents on the racetrack and in the paddock. We have a story to tell about how safe harness racing is.”
To learn more about the USTA Equine Health & Wellness Database, click here.
Tony Salerno, the PHRC Standardbred bureau director, said judges at the state’s three harness tracks regularly track such information and submit monthly reports to the PHRC. He said the judges have been trained to use the EHWD and will be entering information going forward.
The Association of Racing Commissioners International has adopted a model rule that encourages judges to use the system, but Tanner noted that does not make participation mandatory. Thus, he is reaching out to racing regulators to move the project along.
In other business at the PHRC meeting, Paula Vitz was introduced as a new member of the commission. She replaces Ed Rogers, who retired after many years serving as a commission member.
Vitz has worked in Pennsylvania government for many years and was involved in developing the 2004 Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act that authorized racetrack gaming.
“(Horse racing) has been near and dear to my heart since my Senate days,” Vitz said. “I’m always eager to learn. Thank you for this opportunity.”