The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA)'s Exercise-Associated Sudden Death (EASD) Working Group, formed in October of 2023 to advance research initiatives and collaborate with industry leaders on the critical issue of EASD, announced on Nov. 19 the funding of two groundbreaking research studies.
The Working Group is made up of distinguished veterinarians and equine researchers focused on the scientific understanding and prevention of sudden, unexpected fatalities occurring during or closely following exercise in Thoroughbred racehorses.
"The EASD Working Group is working diligently to address the incidence of sudden deaths, which continue to account for a significant portion of racing fatalities," said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. "This ongoing challenge requires increased attention, which is exactly why HISA exists. We are optimistic that this group's research will enhance our understanding and help inform policy changes that will reduce sudden fatalities and safeguard our horses."
The Group is sponsoring two groundbreaking studies, one of which seeks to identify biomarkers that could be used to identify horses at high risk of EASD, while the other focuses on a comprehensive monitoring program using wearable technology. Both are aimed at developing practical screening tools and reducing EASD occurrences.
University of Minnesota Biomarker Research
Dr. Sian Durward-Akhurst of the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Minnesota, is working on a multi-omics approach to prediction of EASD in Thoroughbred racehorses by identifying biomarker differences between healthy Thoroughbreds and those that succumb to EASD.
The lab's long-term goal is to develop a non-invasive screening test to identify horses at increased risk of EASD. These horses can then be monitored closely, and recommendations can be made for when they are safe to train and race with the goal of reducing the frequency of EASD. Additionally, if there are horses considered at high risk of EASD but never have issues, it will be possible to look for protective measures to which those horses may be exposed.
Racing authorities and racetracks are being recruited to collect samples from horses that have succumbed to EASD and healthy controls.
University of Pennsylvania and University of Minnesota Wearable Device Monitoring Program
Dr. Cris Navas of New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, and Dr. Durward-Akhurst of the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Minnesota, have begun an Exercise-Associated Sudden Death monitoring pilot program.
Collaborating trainers are asked to place the Arioneo Equimetre wearable devices on each horse during training weekly for 4-6 months. For each of the training sessions, ECG, heart rate, stride characteristics (rate, length, symmetry [for trot] and regularity), speed, distance, duration, and the relationships and progression of these variables are measured. Enrollment is free and the data is kept confidential among researchers, trainers, and the veterinary team of each trainer.
In the first eight weeks of the study, they have recruited 193 Thoroughbred racehorses across racetracks in Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, and Minnesota, and 493 training sessions have been recorded. They are planning to record 250 horses for the initial phase of the study, giving approximately 4,000 training sessions for analysis.
These research projects are ongoing. The initial pilot studies are expected to be completed by December 2025. If data collection and analysis are proven to be feasible in the North American racetrack setting, the goal is to enroll a large enough number of racehorses to allow the identification of risk factors for EASD. If accurate risk factors are identified, these will used to implement prevention programs to reduce the frequency of EASD.
About the EASD Working Group
The EASD Working Group is comprised of renowned experts in veterinary medicine and pathology, including:
Sian Durward-Akhurst, BVMS, PhD, DACVIM
Craig Goldblatt, DVM
Julie Engiles, VMD, DACVP
Lynn Hovda, DVM, PhD, ACVIM
Laura Kennedy, DVM, DACVP
Molly McCue, DVM, PhD, DACVIM
Cris Navas, LV, PhD, DACVIM
Allen Page, DVM, PhD
Mary Robinson, DVM, PhD
Francisco Uzal, DVM, PhD, DACVP
These veterinarians are focused on EASD monitoring, on-track emergency response plans, uniform heart sampling, advanced postmortem testing, and necropsy protocols. Together, they aim to develop and implement practical strategies to understand better, monitor, and reduce the risk of EASD.
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