The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority released a statement regarding the Parx Racing turf course after officials and racetrack surface experts examined it earlier this week. Turf racing at Parx has been suspended since late August after Causes Trouble was fatally injured during the Aug. 24 Parx Dash Stakes there, and the safety of the course was called into question by critics, led by Bob Hutt, president of the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association.
"HISA officials visited PARX Casino and Racing on Monday, Sept. 2, and Tuesday, Sept. 3, accompanied by turf surface experts," a HISA spokesperson wrote. "The team conducted a track evaluation, collected soil samples, and performed moisture and consistency tests, which will be compared with previous results. At the time of the evaluation, all divots had been filled with growing medium. However, there was a noticeable lack of moisture in the track surface. Track management explained the irrigation system was down for maintenance.
"HISA officials met with PARX horsemen and Jeff Matty, executive director of the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, to provide updates on the ongoing review and demonstrate the Racing Services Testing Laboratory track surface testing procedures.
"On Wednesday, Sept. 4, the irrigation system was operational, and a portion of the turf course was aerated. Track management has committed to completing additional steps over the next two weeks, aiming to resume turf racing on Monday, Sept. 16 through Sept. 21, concluding with (Pennsylvania) Derby day. A representative of HISA's Track Surface Advisory Group will visit PARX for another evaluation prior to the track re-opening. HISA will continue working with PARX management to evaluate the ongoing efforts and develop a comprehensive long-term plan to upgrade the turf surface."
BloodHorse requested the report from HISA investigators for review. A HISA spokesperson said they had not issued a report and the statement was all it has shared to date.
Absent the report, BloodHorse requested the specific emails and written documentation of HISA investigators and a more detailed explanation of some aspects of its statement, such as the additional steps PARX would undertake and how long the irrigation system had been down for maintenance. A response to those requests was not received from HISA.
Hutt, whose contact with HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus helped sparked the examination of the course, responded to the statement by saying, "In fairness to HISA, I don't think it's wise for me to comment during an ongoing investigation."
He had previously called the turf course a "minefield," illustrating his point by circulating a video taken by a horse person after racing that showed deep divots.
In an interview last week, Ann McGovern, director of racetrack safety for HISA, said Joe Wilson, chief operating officer for Parx Racing, told her, "If it was his course, it was taken following a race day and not after the divots had been repaired, which would have happened the next day prior to racing. So we were seeing a course that had not been attended (to) or maintained following racing."
Wilson does not speak to the media.
McGovern said last week that HISA has not finalized the whole process for accrediting Parx Racing, though officials visited it in April 2023 and again this spring. Parx has noted it was certified by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association in 2018, and in June of this year, the Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory inspected and approved its racing surfaces.
