Horse Care& safety

HORSES
& RIDERS
1/ST

FROM THE MOMENT
A HORSE ARRIVES
AT OUR TRACK

Each year, 1/ST tracks are home to thousands of horses for training and racing. Every horse must arrive with full veterinarian records, and every horse is examined before they can train or run to ensure they are fully healthy.

1/ST is committed to achieving the highest horse care and safety standards in Thoroughbred racing, and we have a track record of pushing those standards forward. It all starts with doing right by the horse as soon as they arrive at our tracks and training centers.

For every horse and rider, our first priority is safety.

Through precise attention to detail and a thorough process, we are working to pioneer thoughtful Thoroughbred horse racing - in every race, at every track.

1/ST IN HORSE CARE

OUR
CHIEF VETERINARY OFFICER
DR. DIONNE BENSON DVM, JD.

Dr. Benson is world renown and uniquely qualified to direct the safety protocols, veterinary research and animal care initiatives for 1/ST facilities across the country.

Dr. Benson and her robust teams of veterinarians at each track and training center monitor the health and well-being of the horses at every stage of their stay at our stables.

Each horse is thoroughly examined both prior to and after each race with a full medical protocol.

1/ST LEADS
THE INDUSTRY
IN REFORMING
MEDICATION TREATMENT

In each state where 1/ST operates, we are working closely with local Thoroughbred horse racing associations to eliminate all medications within 48 hours of a race and to ensure pain and anti-inflammatory medication is strictly administered.

We strongly believe that no horse should ever run with pain or injury.

ALL RACE SURFACES
ARE INSPECTED
DAILY

At 1/ST, safety starts with the daily inspection of all our dirt, turf and synthetic courses by internationally recognized track surface experts to ensure the safest race and workout surfaces possible.

HORSE AFTERCARE
WHEN THE RACES ARE OVER

1/ST TRAINING FACILITIES

  • SAN LUIS REY

  • BOWIE

  • PALM MEADOWS

  • GULFSTREAM PARK WEST

Thoroughbreds can be retired for a myriad of reasons. Some reasons are as simple as they didn’t show an interest in racing, they lacked speed or their owners felt they might be better suited in another area outside of racing. There are countless success stories involving former racehorses transitioning into other careers. Some become western, trail and pleasure horses, others move on to aiding in therapeutic work, and very often these Thoroughbreds delve into the area of show jumping or 3-day eventing.

1/ST is fully committed to finding the right homes for all the horses who leave racing and currently supports multiple organizations and aftercare groups across the country.

Bottom line, 1/ST does not allow the mistreatment, abuse, neglect or abandonment of any horse on its property and looks to ensure that racehorses have a long and happy second career.

Learn More About 1/ST’s Commitment and Dedication to Thoroughbred Aftercare

RIDERS 1/ST

AT 1/ST, WE ARE
STRIVING TO ACHIEVE
THE HIGHEST
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARDS OF
HORSE CARE
AND SAFETY

JOCKEYS
& RIDERS

The safety and care of our athletes is top priority, and that extends to the jockeys and riders who dedicate their lives to the sport. At 1/ST, we work closely with The Jockeys’ Guild to support the implementation of critical safety and equipment protocols to protect jockeys and riders during their careers.

As we do with horse aftercare, we go beyond the racetrack to invest in meaningful programs for injured or retired jockeys and riders. In partnership with the Jockeys’ Guild and the After The Impact Fund, we at 1/ST invested in and developed the only, first-of-its-kind program to facilitate customized treatment for jockeys in conjunction with military veterans and retired pro athletes with unseen traumatic injuries from the field, including TBI, anxiety, depression, PTSD, transition, addiction and suicide prevention. This program was introduced as a pilot in 2017 and has made a profound impact on those who need it most.

1/ST is also proud to support the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund at our racetracks and premier events throughout the year.