The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority and the Jockeys' Guild will co-host the International Jockey Concussion, Safety, and Wellness Conference from Oct. 9-11 at the Fasig-Tipton sales pavilion in Lexington. The event will serve as a forum for exploring ways to address critical mental wellness, concussion, and medical issues affecting Thoroughbred jockeys and participants in other equestrian sports.
“Ensuring that our athletes have access to the best resources and protocols for concussion management and overall wellness is not just a priority for HISA, but a fundamental responsibility,” said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. “We owe it to these athletes, who dedicate so much to racing, to do everything we can to support them.”
Jockeys' Guild President and CEO Terry Meyocks added, “The Jockeys' Guild has long advocated for programs to support jockeys' stress and challenges, and we're pleased to be partnering with HISA this year, as we continue to build on our 15-year involvement in the International Conference on the Health, Safety, and Welfare of the jockeys. We firmly believe insights from this year's scheduled speakers will aid our collective efforts to further enhance jockey wellness and resources, with a long-term goal to expand mental health programs beyond jockeys to benefit all in our industry.”
Among the scheduled speakers are Dr. Margot Putukian, Chief Medical Officer of Major League Soccer; Dr. Steven Broglio, Director of the University of Michigan Concussion Center and Neurotrauma Research Laboratory; Dr. Shae Datta, Vice Chair of the American Academy of Neurology's Sports Neurotrauma Section; and Dr. Mark Hart, Cardiologist and FEI Medical Committee Chairman.
For more details, as well as a full list of speakers, and to register, visit the conference webpage or contact Niki Robb at niki.robb@hisaus.org.
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