Hidden Injuries: The Challenges of Preventing Fatalities in Horse Racing

There is no easy or reliable method to identify microscopic injuries in horses that can lead to catastrophic breakdowns while racing. In an attempt to prevent as many fatalities as possible, at Golden Gate Fields in Albany, California, veterinarians inspect horses before and after every race. But despite best efforts, some horses that pass the medical examination and show no external signs of injury or lameness will still suffer fatal injuries.
Although it is impossible to prevent all fatalities in horse racing, California has lowered the fatality rate in recent years. There have been extensive efforts to ensure that race horses have a high quality of life during and after their racing career.