The Racing Injury Prevention Program, a partnership of the CHRB and UC Davis, launched in 2010 with a mission of enhancing the welfare of horses and riders by reducing the incidence of injuries in racehorses at California racetracks and training facilities.

Three parts make up the research program: The Equine Postmortem Program, Track Safety Standards Project, and Racing Injury Prevention Program. The goals of the program are to identify conditions that may contribute to catastrophic injuries.

Research conducted through UC Davis has changed racetrack policy and rules around the country. Study findings indicating that horseshoes with long toe grabs contributed to the potential for fatal injury led to restrictions on the maximum height for toe grabs that have since been adopted by the majority of states.

The program’s research has also led to the creation of a continuing education program for California racing licensees. The training materials have been developed to prevent injury in equine athletes.