The Jockey Club and Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation today announced the agenda for the fifth Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit, to be held on Tuesday, July 8, and Wednesday, July 9, 2014, and hosted by Keeneland Association in the Keeneland Sales Pavilion.

Debuting in 2006, this two-day, semi-annual workshop brings together a wide range of professionals and stakeholders in the industry to discuss relevant equine safety issues. It is open to the public and will be streamed live on jockeyclub.comand grayson-jockeyclub.org.

The topics to be addressed include racetrack surface technologies, the status of the modern Thoroughbred, the National Uniform Medication Program, advanced horsemanship, the Jockey Injury Database, and how the relationship and interaction among owners, trainers and veterinarians can enhance the wellbeing of Thoroughbreds.

“Keeneland is proud to be hosting the Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit for the fifth consecutive time,” said Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason. “This event has made significant strides toward widespread change for horse health and safety in just a few short years.”

“The Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit has been influential in implementing positive changes for the racing industry,” said Edward L. Bowen. “The past four summits have resulted in the development of such programs as the Equine Injury Database, Jockey Injury Database, and the Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory, and we look forward to seeing what new initiatives may come from this gathering.”

Tuesday’s agenda will feature talks from industry leaders including Dr. Lisa Hanelt, Finger Lakes examining veterinarian; Steve Koch, vice president of Thoroughbred racing, Woodbine Entertainment Group; Dr. Jennifer Durenberger, director of racing, Massachusetts Gaming Commission; Dr. Mary Scollay, equine medical director, Kentucky Horse Racing Commission; Mike Ziegler, executive director, NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance; Dr. Dionne Benson, executive director and chief operating officer, Racing Medication and Testing Consortium; Edward L. Bowen, president, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation; Dr. Rick Arthur, equine medical director, California Horse Racing Board; Dr. Rick Sams, director, HFL Sport Science; and Dr. Larry Bramlage, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS.

Tuesday will also include an appearance by leading trainer Todd Pletcher, who will be participating via video connection.

On Wednesday, the group of industry leaders speaking will include Dr. Scott Palmer, the new equine medical director of the New York State Gaming Commission; Dr. Heather Knych, UC-Davis assistant professor of Clinical Molecular Biosciences; Dr. James N. MacLeod from the University of Kentucky Gluck Equine Research Center Dept. of Veterinary Sciences; Dr. Wayne McIlwraith, Colorado State distinguished professor; Dr. Carl Mattacola, associate professor and division director of Athletic Training, University of Kentucky; Dr. Mick Peterson, executive director, Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory, and professor, University of Maine; Glen Kozak, New York Racing Association vice president of Facilities & Racing Surfaces; and Dixie Hayes, academic coordinator and trainer, North American Racing Academy.

Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation is traditionally the nation’s leading source of private funding for equine medical research that benefits all breeds of horses. Since 1983, the foundation has provided more than $20.9 million to fund 310 projects at 41 universities in North America and overseas. Additional information about the foundation and the summit is available at grayson-jockeyclub.org.