Horse Racing Industry

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) announced the opportunity for the public to provide input regarding issues related to safety and health in the horse racing industry and best practices. These comments may help to shape proposed future activities by NIOSH. The public meeting was held on May 22, 2007 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City at Reagan National Airport, 2799 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA 22202.

Pre-meeting Information

Notice of public meeting; 72 FR 20551; 04/25/07 [PDF – 466 KB]

Letter to The Honorable Michael Leavitt (US Department of Health and Human Services) from Whitfield and Stupak (Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Committee on Energy and Commerce, US House of Representatives) – 11/3/05 [PDF – 127 KB]

Letter to The Honorable Ed Whitfield (Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Committee on Energy and Commerce, US House of Representatives) from Leavitt (The Secretary of Health and Human Services) – 1/25/06 [PDF – 105 KB]

Letter to The Honorable Ed Whitfield (Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Committee on Energy and Commerce, US House of Representatives) from Leavitt (The Secretary of Health and Human Services) – 1/25/06 [PDF – 46 KB]

Letter to The Honorable Bart Stupak (Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Committee on Energy and Commerce, US House of Representatives) from Leavitt (The Secretary of Health and Human Services) – 1/25/06 [PDF – 47 KB]

Meeting Information

Agenda for meeting – 05/22/07 [PDF – 354 KB]

Attendees of Public Meeting Safety and Health in the Horse Racing Industry and Best Practices – 05/22/07 [PDF – 190 KB]

Presentation by Seftel (Bay Meadows and Golden Gate Fields Racecourses, CA) – 05/22/07 [PDF – 13,110 KB]

Text for Seftel presentation (Bay Meadows and Golden Gate Fields Racecourses-CA) – 5/22/07 [PDF – 2,300 KB]

Presentation by Bahno (AIG Consultants, Inc.) – 05/22/07 [PDF – 2,930 KB]

Presentation by Farberow (University of Pennsylvania) – 05/22/07 [PDF – 2,800 KB]

Presentation by Hornung (University of Louisville) – 05/22/07 [PDF – 4,540 KB]

Presentation by Opacich (University of Illinois at Rockford) – 05/22/07 [PDF – 9,360 KB]

Post-Meeting Information

Submission to the docket from private person – 04/25/07 [PDF – 217 KB]

Transcripts of the Meeting Safety and Health in the Horse Racing Industry – 05/22/07 [PDF – 797 KB]

Submission to the docket from private person – 5/24/07 [PDF – 385 KB]

Submission to the docket from private person – 06/05/07 [PDF – 286 KB]

Submission to the docket from Bulik (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) – 06/12/07 [PDF – 845 KB]

Submission to the docket from Opacich (University of Illinois at Rockford) – 06/12/07 [PDF – 2,890 KB]

Submission to the docket from McCann (The Center to Protect Workers’ Rights) – 06/18/07 [PDF – 3,580 KB]

Submission to the docket from private person– 06/22/07 [PDF – 455 KB]

Submission to the docket from Scherf (Thoroughbred Racing Associations of North America, Inc.) – 06/22/07 [PDF – 1,690 KB]

Peer review

As one of the outcomes of this public meeting on safety and health in the horse racing industry, NIOSH published the technical document An Overview of Safety and Health for Workers in the Horse Racing Industry.

Title: An Overview of Safety and Health for Workers in the Horse Racing Industry

Subject: An overview of fatal and nonfatal injury data for the horse racing industry, information on current regulations, and overview of safety and health issues, and considerations for improving safety and health.

Purpose: To respond to congressional request for NIOSH to address worker safety and health issues within the horse racing industry

Timing of Review: May 2008

Primary Disciplines or Expertise Needed for Review: Eating disorders, jockey safety and health, horse racing

Type of Review: Individual

Number of Reviewers: 2

Reviewers Selected by: NIOSH

Public Nominations Requested for Reviewers: No

Opportunities for the Public to Comment: Yes

Peer Reviewers Provided with Public Comments Before Their Review: No

Peer Reviewers:

Dr Cynthia Bulik, Ph.D.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Areas of Expertise: William and Jeanne Jordan Distinguished Professor of Eating Disorders
Recommended by: NIOSH

Dr Carlton Hornung
Academic and Professional Credentials: Ph.D.
Organizational Affiliation: University of Louisville
Areas of Expertise: Epidemiologist with research in the area of jockey safety and health
Recommended by: NIOSH

Charge to Peer Reviewers:

As one of the outcomes of last year’s public meeting on safety and health in the horse racing industry, NIOSH has recently completed a draft technical document entitled “An Overview of Safety and Health for Workers in the Horse Racing Industry.” Because of your experience in this area, we would appreciate your review of this document.

Peer Reviewers’ Comments:

Reviewer 1

• Requested additional information on the number of occupational fatalities to Hispanics.
• Suggested adding additional information on “proof of fitness to ride.”
• Suggested adding a recommendation for industry representatives and professional associations to develop and provide appropriate education and referrals for eating disorders and weight control issues.
• Requested information on the number of fatalities to workers less than 18 years of age.

Reviewer 2

• Recommended that some of the older references be replaced with citations of this reviewer’s work.

Response to Peer Reviewers’ Comments:

Reviewer 1

• The proportion of Hispanic fatalities across all industries for the same time periods was added for comparison purposes.
• Examples of what could be required to determine fitness to ride were added.
• (Suggested adding a recommendation for industry representatives and professional associations to develop and provide appropriate education and referrals for eating disorders and weight control issues.) This recommendation was added.
• This information could not be provided due to CFOI confidentiality requirements.

Reviewer 2

• This change was not made because none of the reviewer’s research in this area has been published.