rider safety

For most of the sport's history the mental well-being of jockeys was not something that anybody talked about or even thought about. But the problem could no longer be ignored when, in 2023, two jockeys, Alex Canchari and Avery Whisman, took their own lives. They were otherwise young and healthy, but the pressures of being a jockey was a burden both, apparently, could not handle. They were not alone. Jockeys' Guild President and CEO Terry Meyocks said that 230 jockeys were surveyed last year and asked about their mental health....

Registration is open for the International Jockey Concussion, Safety and Wellness Conference, which is set for October 9-11 at Fasig-Tipton's Lexington location, HISA said in a tweet on Thursday. The event is presented by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) and the Jockeys' Guild of America. According to the HISA website, the agenda will focus on mental wellness, concussion and medical issues affecting athletes with a particular focus on Thoroughbred jockeys. The event includes international speakers and features presentations from Dr. Margot Putukian, Chief Medical Officer at Major League...

HISA has introduced U.S. Thoroughbred racing's first-ever recommended national concussion protocol for jockeys, the entity said in a release Thursday morning. Under HISA's Racetrack Safety rules, racetracks are required to implement a concussion protocol for jockeys. HISA's recommended protocol would become mandatory for all racetracks under their jurisdiction, when and if, the FTC approves the proposed changes, which were submitted last month. HISA's national concussion protocol was developed in consultation with leading experts to protect the health and safety of jockeys across the country and brings racing in line with...