Thistledown canceled racing July 29, a day after its eight-race card was scrapped following a deadly breakdown within the first race. There may be hope that racing and coaching can resume as early as July 30.
“I believe there is a good likelihood we practice and race tomorrow,” stated Ohio Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protecting Affiliation govt director Dave Basler following a gathering involving the HBPA, horsemen, and monitor officers. “I do not wish to communicate for HISA, however I believe yesterday, understandably, was a precautionary measure. And earlier than racing resumed, they needed to see some extra information to make it possible for every part’s been checked out.”
Horseracing Integrity and Security Authority CEO Lisa Lazarus requested the monitor to cancel the rest of Monday’s card after the breakdown of 5-year-old filly Tayyara within the first race of the cardboard. That transfer got here following security considerations on the Ohio monitor final week concerning the dust floor, which resulted in misplaced coaching days and racing cancellations.
Its monitor superintendent, Sean Wright, was fired July 21 amid allegations that there have been giant rocks on the monitor. Wright advised Thoroughbred Day by day Information he was fired for “being a whistleblower as a result of he took his considerations to HISA and the monitor stewards.”Â
Horsemen and monitor officers have been glad with the situation of the monitor after coaching over the weekend, and racing resumed Monday after scheduled darkish days. Join BloodHorse Day by day
In Monday’s opening race, Tayyara broke nicely and was both on or simply off the lead for the opening quarter-mile earlier than being injured on the flip of the six-furlong race. She fell again and was bumped by rival Well timed Secret . She was vanned off the monitor and euthanized.Â
In a press release, HISA stated that it requested Thistledown to “conduct an investigation and be ready to debate the outcomes” with Lazarus Monday afternoon to plot out the subsequent steps.
Basler stated he believes that the investigation entails Thistledown offering measurements from the monitor, together with depth measurements and moisture content material—normal information factors that tracks gather and provides to HISA.
A name to Thistledown director of racing Patrick Ellsworth was not returned.Â
Basler stated that horsemen don’t consider there was something flawed with the monitor on Monday that resulted within the breakdown.Â
“I did not hear any adverse complaints,” he stated. “I believe we had 50-some horses work yesterday morning, with out incident. Our horsemen, the monitor administration, the riders have been all in settlement that we had a protected racing service going into yesterday’s card. So clearly, a tragic incident that we do not wish to see repeated. However I do not suppose that we wish to level fingers in any course on what the trigger was.”
