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Breeders' Cup Limited is committed to maintaining the highest equine welfare and safety standards in Thoroughbred racing for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships and its participants.

INTEGRITY, SAFETY & SECURITY

Safety - Hero Banner

Kaleb Dempsey, Chief Technology Officer for the Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory, reviews the protocols in place to ensure a safe and fair surface at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.

Surface Testing and Maintenance at the World Championships

Dr. Peter Hester, National Medical Director for HISA, discusses jockey safety protocols in place for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

Jockey Safety Paramount at Breeders’ Cup World Championships

As horse racing’s greatest get ready to take the stage, Breeders’ Cup is providing an ecosystem of care to keep these athletes safe. Learn more about the veterinary protocols in place for the 2024 Breeders’ Cup World Championships from Dr. William Farmer, Co-Leader of the Breeders’ Cup Veterinary Team.

Breeders' Cup Vet Safety

Breeders’ Cup Safety

The safety and integrity measures in place for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships include pre- and post-race testing, out-of-competition testing for prohibited substances, a 96-hour equine security surveillance window, and independent veterinary examination and observation of each potential competitor upon arrival at Del Mar. Breeders’ Cup runners are under constant surveillance by security experts, veterinarians, video monitoring, track officials, and regulators to ensure they are fit to race before they set foot on the track.

A CLOSER LOOK AT BREEDERS' CUP SAFETY PROTOCOLS

The main track at Del Mar is a natural dirt track that is a combination of several types of dirt and sand. In order to ensure the safest track conditions for the athletes, surface specialists use a number of maintenance techniques depending on weather conditions.

SURFACE MAINTENANCE & TECHNOLOGY

All Championship runners undergo blood and hair follicle testing and multiple veterinary examinations before they are allowed to participate in the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

BREEDERS' CUP VET EXAMINATIONS

Jockey safety at the World Championships is a top priority, with multiple steps taken to mitigate risk to riders and ﻿﻿﻿﻿a significant focus﻿ on emergency preparedness.

JOCKEY HEALTH & SAFETY

Breeders’ Cup was a Day One supporter of the legislation that established the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) and advocated for its passage by Congress. Breeders’ Cup is also proud to have been a founding member of the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition, which was established by the nation’s leading Thoroughbred racing organizations to unify and enhance safety protocols and work together to develop new reforms to ensure the well-being of the sport’s equine and human athletes. The uniform rules and regulations the Coalition adopted and advocated for at the state-level served as the basis for HISA’s Racetrack Safety and Anti-Doping and Medication Control Programs, now in place nationwide.

BREEDERS’ CUP’S LASTING COMMITMENT TO SAFETY

Breeders' Cup Limited is committed to maintaining the highest equine welfare and safety standards in Thoroughbred racing for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships and its participants.

Safety