University of Guelph researcher, Dr. Jeff Thomason is the co-author in a study that is internationally acclaimed: Track Surfaces Paper
A number of factors affect the performance of a racing or training surface according to the 34-page Racing Surfaces White Paper published in June this year.
The publication is a collection of scientific papers co-authored by a widely recognized panel including: Dr. Mick Peterson, (University of Maine), Dr. Jeffrey Thomason (University of Guelph), Dr. Lars Roepstorrf (Swedish University of Agricultural Science), Dr. C. Wayne McIlwraith, (Colorado State University), and Christie Mahaffey, MPhil (University of Maine).
Though there is still much research to be done since the forming of the racing surfaces committee at the inaugural Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit in 2006, the publication is expected to benefit trainers, track superintendents, and any person in charge of riding surfaces.
Details of proper maintenance of surfaces and training guidelines can be found, based on the knowledge gained from the researchers’ findings thus far.
The paper notes, “No other risk factor, except perhaps the quality of pre-race examinations, has an impact on all horses racing at a particular venue on a single day. Therefore the development of a consistent and well-characterized racing surface is an important goal of the industry.
“This requires that a tool exist that can objectively quantify the functional properties of surfaces, particularly those properties in the causal pathway to injury.”
The authors added, “In fact, the role of surfaces in the debate over the safety of racing is sufficiently important that it may be that many of the other challenges facing the industry will only be addressed in a systematic manner after significant progress has occurred in understanding what constitutes a safe racing surface. Thus, improved racing surfaces should be regarded as a step on the path to improved safety of the racehorse and resulting in a safer sport for the riders.”
The authors noted that the document considers only the effect of surfaces on the risk to the horse.
“Optimization of surfaces alone will never eliminate catastrophic injuries, and may not even be a primary factor in most injuries. However, the absence of well accepted characterization methods and basic science of racing surfaces is a significant obstacle to improved performance and safety.”
The stated, “A critical aspect of the effort to improve surfaces is looking at the factors of which control the performance of racing surfaces in the context of the relevant biomechanics, the different types of surfaces, and potential testing and maintenance strategies.”
The full paper is available for download at grayson-jockeyclub.org/resources/White_Paper_final.pdf.
