The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority is looking into any and all explanations for an uptick in equine fatalities in the second quarter of 2025 when compared with the same three months of 2024.
HISA released its 2025 Second Quarter Metrics Report Aug. 25. This report offers a detailed analysis of key performance indicators tied to the safety and integrity of Thoroughbred racing in the United States. From April 1-June 30, racetracks operating under HISA's rules reported 1.24 racing-related equine fatalities per 1,000 starts, up from 0.76 fatalities per 1,000 starts reported during the same period last year.
Providing a broader context for quarterly fluctuations, the nationwide racing-related fatality rate was 1.06 per 1,000 starts for the first half of 2025 and was 1.02 per 1,000 starts for the past 12 months as of June 30, 2025. Of the racing-related fatalities recorded this quarter, 85% were attributed to musculoskeletal causes, 13% to sudden death, and 2% to other causes.
HISA takes any uptick in fatalities very seriously and is actively exploring potential factors that may have contributed to the increase in the equine fatality rate this quarter. HISA already has observed several issues that may have contributed to this rise in fatalities.
Data from HISA's digital decision-support tool, HISA Check, revealed an increase in several risk factors among affected horses, including long layoffs before a return to racing, history of Shock Wave Therapy, repeated unsoundness and joint treatments, and prior injuries.
HISA also observed a rise in the relative percentage of fatalities involving the fetlock. These injuries, often the result of accumulated microdamage, accounted for more than 75% of musculoskeletal racing-related fatalities in the second quarter of 2025, up from approximately two-thirds in 2024.
Researchers on HISA's Exercise Associated Sudden Death Working Group found some racehorses had atrial fibrillation at rest and during exercise, leading to fatal heart arrhythmias. While historically considered performance-limiting but relatively benign, this finding suggests that early detection through routine heart screenings could help prevent sudden deaths and improve safety outcomes.
While this quarter reflects an increase from the racing-related fatality rate reported during the same quarter last year, the rate is a 16% decrease from the 1.48 fatalities per 1,000 starts recorded in the second quarter of 2023—HISA's first year of data collection—demonstrating continued progress toward horse racing's long-term safety goals. As data collection and analysis become more advanced, they are enabling more targeted interventions to address areas of concern and improve outcomes across the sport.
"Progress isn't always linear and it doesn't happen passively—it takes discipline, a commitment to transparency, and a shared daily focus on doing what's right for our horses and our sport," said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. "Now is the time for every stakeholder to step up. Safety is a non-negotiable priority. The future of Thoroughbred racing depends on our collective will to embrace change and to adapt to improved standards across the industry."
"Our team continues to work closely with stakeholders to strengthen track safety," said HISA director of racetrack safety Ann McGovern. "Through the creation of our Racing Office Advisory Group and Medical Advisory Committee, we've opened new lines of communication with horsemen and medical professionals to better protect both racehorses and jockeys."
At the racetrack level, nine tracks improved their year-over-year racing-related fatality rates in the second quarter, and four tracks recorded a 100% decline year over year—including Turf Paradise in Arizona, a facility that collaborated with HISA over several months to institute practices designed to reduce equine fatalities.
During the second quarter of 2025, racetracks reported 0.52 training-related fatalities per 1,000 workouts. Of these, 80% were attributed to musculoskeletal causes, 16% to sudden death, and 4% to other causes.
In total, 28,707 unique Covered Horses recorded either a published workout or a start in a Covered Race during the first half of the year. Combining racing and training fatalities, the fatality rate for the Covered Horse population stands at 0.36%.
The full 2025 Second Quarter Metrics Report
The Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit also will publish a separate quarterly report detailing metrics from the Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
