New communications policies in place for BC

Several new policies will be in effect at this year's Breeders' Cup World

Championships at Churchill Downs, November 4-5, to ensure seamless

communications between Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) personnel,

stewards, members of the veterinary teams, race participants and Breeders' Cup

and Churchill Downs racing officials, it was announced Monday. 

The new policies are an outgrowth of meetings among representatives of

Breeders' Cup, Churchill Downs and the KHRC after the 2010 Breeders' Cup World

Championships at Churchill Downs when circumstances involving the pre-race

conduct of racing officials and a televised interview with jockey John

Velazquez, who rode Life at Ten in a last-place finish in the Breeders' Cup

Ladies' Classic, resulted in a KHRC investigation, the final determinations of

which are still pending.

The new measures include: 

"The circumstances of last year's Ladies' Classic were unprecedented and

initiated us to work with the KHRC and our hosts at Churchill Downs to take

steps needed to make sure all individuals of the on-track safety team have

access to the same information in real time," said Craig Fravel, Breeders' Cup

President and CEO.

"Together with the KHRC, we will also be working with the Guild and meeting

with the jockeys to make sure they understand their responsibilities and that

the commission veterinarians and the stewards are the final arbiters for

deciding whether to scratch a horse."

"Protecting the integrity of horse racing is paramount to the Kentucky Horse

Racing Commission," KHRC Executive Director Lisa Underwood said. "The

transparency of the report prepared after the Ladies' Classic and the

recommendations presented in the report helped foster this collaborative effort

to make improvements regarding the safety and integrity of horse racing. The

implementation of these new measures is indicative of the success of that

collaboration."

"In an era in which information travels around the globe in seconds, it is

more important than ever that the basic communication among our key personnel on

the ground be fast, clear and efficient," said Kevin Flanery, president of

Churchill Downs. "We appreciate the opportunity to work with the Breeders' Cup

and the KHRC in establishing these policies that will benefit not only the 2011

Breeders' Cup, but also Churchill Downs and other tracks throughout North

America as we present our big events and daily racing programs."