HISA and Jockeys’ Guild to Host International Jockey Wellness Conference October 9-11, 2024
May 28, 2024 (Lexington, KY) – The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) and the Jockeys’ Guild are proud to announce that they will co-host the International Jockey Concussion, Safety, and Wellness Conference, from October 9-11, 2024, in Lexington, KY. The groundbreaking event will serve as a forum for exploring ways to address critical mental wellness, concussion, and medical issues affecting Thoroughbred jockeys and participants in other equestrian sports.
“Ensuring that our athletes have access to the best resources and protocols for concussion management and overall wellness is not just a priority for HISA, but a fundamental responsibility,” said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. “We owe it to these athletes, who dedicate so much to racing, to do everything we can to support them.”
“The Jockeys’ Guild has long advocated for programs to support jockeys’ stress and challenges, and we’re pleased to be partnering with HISA this year, as we continue to build on our 15-year involvement in the International Conference on the Health, Safety, and Welfare of the jockeys,” said Terry Meyocks, Jockeys’ Guild President & CEO. “We firmly believe insights from this year’s scheduled speakers will aid our collective efforts to further enhance jockey wellness and resources, with a long-term goal to expand mental health programs beyond jockeys to benefit all in our industry.”
The conference’s comprehensive program will feature two days of engaging sessions, including roundtable discussions, presentations and lectures, on topics related to jockey safety and wellbeing, such as The Landscape Around Athlete Health and Concussions and the Crucial Connection Between Brain Health and Nutrition. The information shared, including best practices and potential industry solutions, will be highly relevant to a broad range of attendees, including medical professionals, racetrack safety directors, EMTs and first responders, racetrack management, jockeys and their families, academics, and other racing industry stakeholders.
Among the scheduled speakers are Dr. Margot Putukian, Chief Medical Officer of Major League Soccer, and Dr. Steven Broglio, Director of the University of Michigan Concussion Center and Neurotrauma Research Laboratory, Dr. Shae Datta, Vice Chair of the American Academy of Neurology’s Sports Neurotrauma Section, and Dr. Mark Hart, Cardiologist and FEI Medical Committee Chairman, amongst others. For a full list of speakers, please see the schedule on the conference webpage.
The conference will take place at Fasig-Tipton’s Sales Pavilion in Lexington.
Racing industry participants who are required to meet certain annual continuing education requirements under HISA’s Racetrack Safety Program will be eligible to receive credit for conference attendance. For more details and to register to attend, please visit the conference information page or contact Niki Robb at niki.robb@hisaus.org.
About the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority
When the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act was signed into federal law, it charged the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) with drafting and enforcing uniform safety and integrity rules in Thoroughbred racing in the U.S. Overseen by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), HISA is implementing, for the first time, a national, uniform set of rules applicable to every Thoroughbred racing participant and racetrack facility. HISA is comprised of two programs: the Racetrack Safety Program, which went into effect on July 1, 2022, and the Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program, which went into effect on May 22, 2023.
The Racetrack Safety Program includes operational safety rules and national racetrack accreditation standards that seek to enhance equine welfare and minimize equine and jockey injury. The Program expands veterinary oversight, imposes surface maintenance and testing requirements, enhances jockey safety, regulates riding crop use and implements voided claim rules, among other important measures.
The ADMC Program includes a centralized testing and results management process and applies uniform penalties for violations efficiently and consistently across the United States. These rules and enforcement mechanisms are administered by an independent agency, the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU), established by Drug Free Sport International (DFS). HIWU oversees testing, educates stakeholders on the Program, accredits laboratories, investigates potential ADMC violations and prosecutes any such violations.
About the Jockeys’ Guild
Jockeys’ Guild, Inc. is the organization representing professional jockeys in Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing in the United States. It was founded in May 1940 and has approximately 1,050 members, including active, retired and disabled jockeys. The purpose is to protect jockeys, strive to achieve a safer racing environment, obtain improved insurance and other benefits for members and to monitor developments in local, state and federal laws affecting the racing industry, and in particular, the jockeys. For more information about the Guild, visit www.jockeysguild.com or www.facebook.com/jockeysguild.
MEDIA CONTACT
HISA
Mandy Minger
917-846-8804
Jockeys’ Guild
Jennifer Ray
859-523-5625